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New York Rangers Game Threads

Game #60: Nashville Predators vs New York Rangers Open Thread

Jack McKenna

Jack McKenna

— 1 min read
Game #60: Nashville Predators vs New York Rangers Open Thread
(Image credit: Eric Canha-USA TODAY Sports)

A new era of Rangers hockey begins tonight.

As the Blueshirts take the ice against the Nashville Predators in what will be a battle of two of the most disappointing teams of the 2024-25 season, they'll be doing so following their first major trade deadline-related move. Ryan Lindgren and Jimmy Vesey were dealt to the Colorado Avalanche on Saturday in exchange for a pair of draft picks, forward Jusso Parssinen, and defenseman Calvin de Haan. If there was any doubt whether Chris Drury would seek to prioritize a playoff push over potentially recouping value on the team's pending unrestricted free agents, that question was officially answered.

While the Rangers fell to the Toronto Maple Leafs in their last outing on Friday, Saturday as about as unkind a day as any to the team's playoff hopes. Fellow Eastern Conference Wild Card hopefuls New York (Islanders), Boston, Columbus, Ottawa, Montreal, and Philadelphia all won, with the lone loser Detroit falling to Columbus in their Stadium Series matchup. The Rangers are back down to 12th in the conference, tied with Philadelphia in points and one point ahead of the 14th-place Islanders. A loss tonight a ghastly Predators team could be the final nail in the coffin, so the Blueshirts need to avoid that.

Player to Watch: Jusso Parssinen

While de Haan appears to be more of a warm body throw-in type player in yesterday's trade, the usual gamut of NHL insiders reported that the Rangers have coveted Parssinen for some time. A seventh-round pick by the Predators in 2019, Parssinen began the 2024-25 campaign as a member of the Predators before being traded to the Avalanche in December. Between Nashville and Colorado, Parssinen has amassed a 4-7-11 stat line in 37 games. With Mika Zibanejad likely slated for the wing and Jonny Brodzinski more of a fill-in third line center rather than a full-time answer, Parssinen will be next in line to try and fill that void. Keep an eye on Parssinen as he makes his Broadway debut tonight.

Enjoy the game!

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