J.T. Miller was named captain of the New York Rangers, signaling a leadership core as training camp opens. Miller’s late-season surge after returning in January established him as a top scorer and trusted voice on and off the ice, anchoring a new era under coach Mike Sullivan.

New York reshapes behind the scenes as Miller is reacquired from Vancouver, Gavrikov adds blue-line stability, and Trouba is moved to Anaheim. Laviolette is out, Drury stays, and the opener on Oct. 7 pits the Rangers against Sullivan’s old club, the Pittsburgh Penguins, marking a pivotal season for a club chasing a return to the postseason.

Sidney Crosby trade chatter swells as Pittsburgh weighs a potential rebuild. Friedman notes Crosby will drive the decision, with timing tied to the Olympics and late-season form. A pre-Olympics move is unlikely, but a late-season pivot to Colorado or Montreal could reshape his fantasy outlook based on new linemates and deployment. Even at 38, Crosby’s elite minutes and power-play presence keep him central to fantasy plans whichever jersey he wears.

For fantasy managers, the key is how deployment shifts with Pittsburgh’s direction. The possibility of a fresh start elsewhere injects upside and risk alike, as Crosby’s historical pace and vision meet unfamiliar surroundings and teammates. The storyline remains unsettled, but the prospect of Crosby in a different uniform adds a new layer to the season’s fantasy calculus.

Ed Giacomin died at 86, leaving a legend-shaped mark on the New York Rangers. He anchored the crease for a decade, posting 267 wins (third in Rangers history) and 49 shutouts (second). His breakout season in 1966-67 featured 30 wins and nine shutouts, kicking off three straight seasons leading the NHL in victories and fueling a nine postseason streak for the Rangers from 1966 to 1975, capped by a 1972 Cup Final appearance.

Giacomin finished his career with Detroit, totaling 290 wins and 54 shutouts along with a 2.82 GAA and a .902 save percentage. Rangers honored him as a heart of the era, echoed by Rod Gilbert’s praise. The piece also notes Marc-André Fleury’s Penguins preseason PTO, underscoring a goaltending lineage from Giacomin’s era to today.