NYR TODAY Thursday May 25: Expansion Draft, Alumni Birthdays, Today in Rangers History

NEW YORK RANGERS EXPANSION DRAFT PROJECTED PROTECTED LIST

(The Hockey News)

Kevin Hayes
Nick Holden
Chris Kreider
Henrik Lundqvist (NMC)
Ryan McDonagh
J.T. Miller
Rick Nash (NMC)
Marc Staal (NMC)
Derek Stepan
Mika Zibanejad
Mats Zuccarello
NMC waived: Dan Girardi

Trade candidate: It’s a tossup between keeping Nick Holden and Kevin Klein as the third protected Ranger defenseman under a 7-3-1 strategy. Holden’s role increased this season, as did his offense, while Klein’s role diminished. Both players have some trade value, however, so GM Jeff Gorton could shop one rather than lose one to Vegas for nothing.

Expansion draft bait: Maybe the Rangers don’t lose a blueliner anyway because their backup goaltender, Antti Raanta, is so darned appealing for Vegas. He’s shown enough talent at 28 to earn a crack at a starting gig in the NHL, and he’s under contract just one more season at $1 million. That’s an ideal goalie for Golden Knights GM George McPhee to target. Should Vegas want some speed and goal-scoring prowess, it appears Michael Grabner will be exposed.

Wild card: The Rangers would be crippled if Girardi refused to waive his no-movement clause. They’d be guaranteed to lose a very important forward in that case. If he won’t waive his NMC, Gorton must buy him out

NYR Alumni Birthdays 5/25 



Wayne Dillon C (1975-1978) Nick Fotiu LW (1976-79,1980-85) David Shaw D (1987-1991)

Today in NYR History May 25

1994: Mark Messier delivers on his guarantee that the New York Rangers will defeat the New Jersey Devils in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Final.

"We will win tonight," Messier tells reporters with the Rangers down 3-2 in the best-of-7 series. His words are splashed on the front pages of newspapers all around the city.

With the Rangers down 2-0 late in the second period at Brendan Byrne Arena, Messier sets up Alex Kovalev before intermission to cut the deficit to one goal. He ties the game early in the third period, puts New York ahead with 7:48 remaining and caps his performance by shooting the puck the length of the ice into an empty net to give the Rangers a 4-2 victory.

"I felt that [guaranteeing a win] would be a great way to let my players know that I believed we could go in there and win Game 6, because we had beaten them six times during the regular season -- three times in their building," Messier said.

The victory evens the series at three wins apiece with Game 7 at Madison Square Garden two days later, meaning the Rangers don't have much time to celebrate.

"Winning the game was a good feeling, but we didn't have long to relish it," Messier said. "All we had done was send the series back to the Garden, and we knew that Game 7 was no sure thing."