The Rangers emerge from the Olympic freeze with Chris Drury wielding $5.9 million in cap space and room to absorb nearly $7.5 million more in salary, turning the March 6 deadline into a fire sale. After shipping out Panarin, Drury eyes high-value chips like Trocheck and Gavrikov, with retention spots still open to sweeten deals. Lafrenière's name even whispers in the wind as this retool accelerates, forcing contenders to pony up picks and prospects before New York's cupboard empties.

Jack Hughes and Macklin Celebrini remind Rangers fans what a true franchise center looks like during the 2026 Olympics gold rush. Hughes bleeds for the golden goal against Canada while Celebrini dazzles, leaving New York to ponder their lottery woes and Letter 2.0 fallout. With Lafrenière needing to step up and free agency looking thin, the Rangers face a stark reality that their next top pick must deliver elite aura or the rebuild drags on.

The Rangers host the Mammoth on Monday night at Madison Square Garden, where oddsmakers see a tight battle between two teams desperate for points in the standings. New York's power play has been clicking lately with Panarin and Zibanejad feeding snipers like Trocheck and Lafrenière, but Utah's grit on the road - think Carcone's net drives and Durzi's clutch shots - could flip the script again.