NHL's 2025 top-25 blends proven stars with budding stars and splits the difference between regular-season dominance and playoff pedigree. Panarin’s drop sparks debate about whether goals alone outrun clutch moments, while Hedman, Slavin and Heiskanen anchor a defense-first core that could tilt where players land this season.

Noah Laba’s overtime winner capped a bristling Rangers preseason, boosting his case for a third‑line center role as he tallies 1 goal and 4 assists in four games. Gabe Perau’s vision and chemistry with Laba shone, underscoring a potential top‑nine spine.

Roster decisions loom: JT Miller’s status is day‑to‑day but hopeful, ten cuts were made, and the third period remains a preseason bugbear. Adam Fox’s ALS donation adds a warm, real‑world touch as opening night nears.

JT Miller's practice injury casts a shadow as the Rangers weigh openings if he misses time, spotlighting who might step into right wing and how Miller’s absence could reshape the top six.

Gabe Perreault is highlighted as a high-upside candidate to seize opportunity, with Mika Zibanejad potentially moving back to center and the top lines retooled. Islanders control the preseason narrative, serving as a proving ground for Rangers youngsters against regulars.

Centennial nights loom large, framing a season built on legacy and milestones. The roster math matters less for the fanfare than avoiding last year’s slip and delivering a meaningful, playoff-caliber run.