{"id":281720,"date":"2025-11-09T18:13:17","date_gmt":"2025-11-09T18:13:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/281720\/"},"modified":"2025-11-09T18:13:17","modified_gmt":"2025-11-09T18:13:17","slug":"bread-for-ducks-no-rebuild-lohrei-lifeline","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/281720\/","title":{"rendered":"Bread for Ducks, No Rebuild, Lohrei Lifeline"},"content":{"rendered":"

Media Bytes<\/a><\/p>\n

Former Rangers are flocking west, Panarin\u2019s future grows cloudier, and a new defensive name hits the rumor radar. Plus, could a team haircut cure the home-ice curse?<\/p>\n


\n \"Phil
\n <\/a><\/p>\n

\"Media
\n \u00a9 Brad Penner-Imagn Images<\/p>\n

Welcome back to Media Bytes, a weekly column from Blueshirt Banter. Every Sunday, we\u2019ll help you start the week right with a quick catch-up on the latest stories and developments around the New York Rangers and the broader NHL media landscape.<\/p>\n

Ex-Rangers Fly Together?<\/p>\n

1. In recent years, the Anaheim Ducks have quietly assembled a growing group of former New York Rangers. What began with Frank Vatrano has since expanded to include Ryan Strome, former captain Jacob Trouba, and, most recently, Chris Kreider. On Monday\u2019s episode of 32 Thoughts, Elliotte Friedman added to the speculation, saying he \u201cwondered\u201d if Artemi Panarin might also be a fit in Anaheim. He cited the Ducks\u2019 deep pool of young talent and reports that Panarin and the Rangers remain divided on contract term in their extension talks.<\/p>\n

“I wondered if a guy like Panarin might make some sense [in Anaheim] … they have a ton of young talent. I just wondered, short-term, see what the number could be? I think Panarin wants to be in New York and we’ll see if this works out.” #NYR<\/a> #FlyTogether<\/a> https:\/\/t.co\/3lTEdTxWKP<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Phil Kocher (@PhilKocher) November 3, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n

Friedman also highlighted another possible draw: Joel Quenneville, the coach who helped Panarin break into the NHL in Chicago and who took over behind the Ducks\u2019 bench this summer. \u201cJust a thought, Kyle,\u201d Friedman said to co-host Kyle Bukauskas. A thought that suddenly doesn\u2019t seem so far-fetched.<\/p>\n

2. Last week, Frank Seravalli floated the idea that the Carolina Hurricanes could be a landing spot for Artemi Panarin. This week, he doubled down, telling Bleacher Report Open Ice that contract talks between Panarin and the Rangers have been \u201cvery slow.\u201d Seravalli added that while Chris Drury is taking time to evaluate the roster before committing, the Hurricanes are \u201cclosely monitoring\u201d the situation.<\/p>\n

NHL Insider Notebook with @frank_seravalli<\/a> \ud83d\udcf2
\u25ab\ufe0f Oilers looking at the trade market? \ud83d\udc40
\u25ab\ufe0f The Penguins hot start \ud83d\udd25
\u25ab\ufe0f The latest on Artemi Panarin \ud83c\udf5e<\/p>\n

Watch at 1:30pm ET in the B\/R apphttps:\/\/t.co\/H8ACOq7WQE<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/Oy3ROcnNZ1<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 B\/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) November 3, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n

As mentioned previously, Panarin\u2019s pending UFA status\u2014not to mention his desire for term that doesn\u2019t appear to align with the Rangers\u2019 stance\u2014will fuel trade speculation all season. It also doesn\u2019t help that he\u2019s one of several top-six forwards struggling to produce so far.<\/p>\n

A three-point night against the Detroit Red Wings<\/a> on Friday helped bring him up to 10 points through his first 15 games, but that level of production is well short of his career average as a 1.15 points per game player.<\/p>\n

A Long Hard Road Out of Hell?<\/p>\n

3. On Wednesday\u2019s Morning Cuppa Hockey, Jonny Lazarus asked Elliotte Friedman about the Rangers\u2019 direction, noting that some fans are already calling for another rebuild. Friedman dismissed the idea immediately, saying owner James Dolan has no appetite for one.<\/p>\n

“It’s not happening,” Friedman told Lazarus and Colby Cohen. “There’s no rebuild coming [in New York].”<\/p>\n

Two key takeaways from @FriedgeHNIC<\/a> on #NYR<\/a> direction: <\/p>\n

1. “Rebuild? It’s not happening. There’s no rebuild coming [in New York].”<\/p>\n

2. “I’m not saying that Panarin’s not trying … but it’s hard not to look at him and say he’s affected by the fact he isn’t signed next year.” https:\/\/t.co\/zyUxX78qK1<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Phil Kocher (@PhilKocher) November 5, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n

Vince Mercogliano reinforced this on the Thursday episode of The Flying V podcast<\/a>, telling listeners that, assuming things don’t improve between now and the deadline, he doesn’t think it’s going to be “a strip down.” Instead, “it’s gonna be more trying to add to the core they have right now through trades, free agency, and they hope internal development,” Mercogliano said. “Certainly, I don’t think you’re going to see [the Rangers] blowing it up.”<\/p>\n

So what\u2019s next? Broadly, it\u2019s too soon to say. But assuming the team\u2019s direction doesn\u2019t shift before the deadline, Mercogliano offered a clearer picture, suggesting that \u201cthere\u2019s definitely a world where [the Rangers are] selling off players they don\u2019t plan to keep \u2014 while also adding guys with term and team control who can help not just this season, but beyond.\u201d<\/p>\n

To what degree that applies remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: The Rangers aren\u2019t starting over. At least not in a “down to the studs” sense. For now, their path forward is to push through with the group they have.<\/p>\n

Oh Hi, Lohrei?<\/p>\n

4. Speaking to Nick Zararis and Andrew Chelney on the Liberty Blue podcast<\/a>, former Rangers’ beat writer Arthur Staple suggested a strategic trade for the Rangers in Boston Bruins’ defenseman Mason Lohrei.<\/p>\n

The #NYR<\/a> are back home tonight vs. Carolina (minus K’Andre Miller, still on IR), still searching for the first win at MSG:<\/p>\n

— Mike Sullivan’s emerging defensive style will be put to the test tonight against the Canes, who will do what they usually do — throw pucks and bodies\u2026<\/p>\n

\u2014 Arthur Staple (@StapeNHL) November 4, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n

Staple described him as a \u201cbigger kid with decent offensive and puck-moving abilities,\u201d and argued that aside from Scott Morrow\u2014who has just one point in his first seven games with Hartford\u2014the Rangers lack \u201csomeone besides Fox who has good offensive instincts and ability.\u201d The 24-year-old defender previously played under current Rangers assistant coach Joe Sacco and is in the first season of a two-year contract worth $3.2 million annually.<\/p>\n

The Boys Should be Buzzing<\/p>\n

5. The Rangers have been shut out five times in their first eight home games. If Shaving his head again earned Panarin a goal and two assists, it might soon be time for a little team bonding…at the barber.<\/p>\n