4 games Rangers fans should already be looking forward to

New York Rangers hockey is back. At least, it will be, given the July 26th release of the 2025-26 season schedule.

The Rangers open play under new head coach Mike Sullivan by hosting Pittsburgh on Oct. 7th. Seventeen of the team's final 26 games of the season will be played on home ice at Madison Square Garden. Additionally, the Rangers have a tour of faceoffs against former players; Zac Jones in Buffalo on Oct. 9, Filip Chytil on Oct. 28 in Vancouver, Kaapo Kakko and Ryan Lindgren in Seattle on Nov. 1, in addition to K'Andre Miller returning to MSG on Nov. 4 (Carolina) and Jacob Trouba and Chris Kreider — of course — making their return on Dec. 15th with Anaheim.

With all that in mind, here's my list of the top four games Rangers fans should absolutely be looking forward to, no questions asked.

4. Hosting the Pittsburgh Penguins - Oct. 7, 2025

Ah yes, the official opening day for the Rangers 2025-26 season. Of course, I'd be remiss to make this list without including the Blueshirts' very first game of next year's season schedule.

However, this is not just any opening game.

Former Pittsburgh Penguins Head Coach Mike Sullivan made the jump over to the Rangers after President and General Manager Chris Drury — deservedly so — let go of Peter Laviolette. Sullivan then completed his coaching staff with David Quinn, Joe Sacco and Ty Hennes.

Two of the three (Quinn and Hennes) are joining the Rangers from the Penguins alongside their former head coach. In addition to sharing a coaching staff and plans, Quinn and Sullivan also used to be teammates during their college at Boston University. Like Sullivan and Quinn, Hennes also has experience on Boston ice, playing for Boston College in the early 2000s.

Naturally, opening the season by watching the Rangers' new head coaches and staff face off against the former franchise will be nothing short of exciting.

3. Visiting the Seattle Kraken - Nov. 1, 2025

For those Rangers fans who enjoy traveling and are seeking to catch at least one away game for the upcoming season, look no further than November's game in Seattle.

Not one but two former Blueshirts will (barring injury) be active on the Kraken's roster for this game — Kakko and Lindgren.

Kakko has recently seen success under his new franchise, as the former first round pick was named the second Star of the Game for the Kraken's 5-2 win over the Utah Hockey Club back last December. Should he continue on his upward trajectory — now with Lindgren by his side — that just brings all the more reason for Rangers fans to be excited to watch the Blueshirts face off against Seattle.

The city is also fun to visit for those fans who choose to make their way up to the Pacific Northwest, with Pike Place Market offering some of the best food the country has to offer.

2. Hosting the New Jersey Devils - March 18, 2026

As we learned with the release of the preseason schedule, the New Jersey Devils and the Rangers will be squaring off in the very first game of the preseason schedule.

With that in mind though, following preseason the Rangers then do not take on the Devils until they travel to Newark on March 7th. This is then followed rather quickly by them hosting the Devils on March 18th.

The Hudson River Rivalry is quite popular in the NHL. New York leads the all-time series against New Jersey. The Rangers have 156 wins compared to the Devils 127 (53.6%). The two teams have also squared off seven times in playoff series; the Rangers also lead in the postseason 4-3.

In their last 10 games against the Devils, the Rangers have a record of 6-4-0. However, the most recent matchup in the Battle of the Hudson was a complete disaster for New York — the Rangers lost 4-0 in shutout fashion.

Hosting the Battle of the Hudson at Madison Square Garden in March will hopefully allow both the Rangers franchise and the fans to get some revenge through a Rangers win.