JOHN DAVIDSON

No one player or executive had a greater influence on how the New York Rangers will look in 2021-22 than Tom Wilson of the Washington Capitals. A game after the Rangers had been eliminated from playoff contention last season, the Caps' enforcer gave the Blueshirts a black eye. In a span of seconds, Wilson punched a prone Pavel Buchnevich in the back of the head in a goal-mouth scramble and later rag-dolled star forward Artemi Panarin to the ice, ending his season.

The Columbus Blue Jackets are dealing with the sudden death of 24-year-old goaltender Matiss Kivlenieks in a Sunday night fireworks accident.

Police called the 24-year-old’s death a “tragic accident.”

Officials had earlier said he died from a head injury trying to exit the hot tub after a fireworks mishap.

Officials had earlier said he died from a head injury trying to exit the hot tub after a fireworks mishap.

Officials had earlier said he died from a head injury trying to exit the hot tub after a fireworks mishap.

Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender Matiss Kivlenieks died of chest trauma from an errant fireworks mortar blast in what authorities described as a tragic accident on the Fourth of July.

Gerard Gallant expects the New York Rangers to take a big step in his first season as coach.

The Associated press has learned that the New York Rangers have reached an agreement to hire Gerard Gallant as their next coach.

John Davidson is returning to the Columbus Blue Jackets as president of hockey operations.

The New York Rangers have fired coach David Quinn and three assistant coaches.

The New York Rangers have been fined $250,000 by the NHL for criticizing head of player safety George Parros.

The New York Rangers say president John Davidson and general manager Jeff Gorton are out.

The women's hockey league thinks it can make it work with the same kind of COVID-19 testing the NBA used in its Disney World bubble. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey, File)The National Women’s Hockey League called off the remainder of its season Wednesday on the eve of the playoffs because of additional positive test results for the coronavirus. Despite not doing that, Tumminia called the NWHL season “successful.”“I actually see it as a success, she said. It will be the first professional women’s hockey game at the storied arena. The NHL’s New York Rangers are hosting the women's game with the team playing at Buffalo that day.

1 pick in the NHL draft while also coming off an appearance in the expanded 24-team playoffs. The Rangers only made the playoffs because the NHL expanded the format to 24, rather than 16 teams. 1 pick is going to be a very good hockey player, there’s no question, maybe even a great player, hopefully. “To be maybe having the chance to play with him, it would be an honor,” Lafreniere said. General managers are bracing for a hectic weekend with numerous teams having to shed payroll this offseason with the NHL salary cap staying at $81.5 million.

FILE - In this Feb. 11, 2017, file photo, New York Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist celebrates his 400th career win, after an NHL hockey game against the Colorado Avalanche, in New York. The New York Rangers have bought out the contract of star goaltender Henrik Lundqvist. The New York Rangers bought out the contract of star goaltender Henrik Lundqvist on Wednesday, parting ways with one of their greatest players in franchise history after 15 mostly spectacular seasons. “We would like to thank Henrik for his immeasurable contributions to the New York Rangers,” Rangers President John Davidson said. His Henrik Lundqvist Foundation strives to create positive change in the lives of children and adults throughout the world through education and health services.

In a unique situation like this, youre going from not playing to playing playoff-style hockey, so youve got to embrace the grind mentally, physically.This is a different kind of grind after four-plus months off the ice. Eddie Olczyk won and lost one best-of-five series early in his playing career with Chicago and remembers the nerves of being 18 and 19 years old in those moments. Carolina coach Rod Brind'Amour understands that urgency despite being drafted two years after the NHL moved to all best-of-seven series. His Hurricanes face the Rangers, whose president, John Davidson, won the only two best-of-five series he played in with New York. In a short series, Quenneville said, anything can happen.___AP Hockey Writer John Wawrow contributed to this report.