Henriksson agreed to terms on a three-year contract with the Swedish club Vaxjo Lakers on Thursday.
Henriksson will be a restricted free agent for the Rangers this offseason, so the team could retain his NHL rights by giving him a qualifying offer. Having said that, the fact that Henriksson signed a three-year deal with a Swedish team suggests he won't be making a return to North America any time soon, so the Rangers could simply decide to let him walk. In the minors this year, the 23-year-old center generated 11 goals and 12 assists in 64 games -- that's not the type of productivity New York was hoping for when they selected him in the second round of the 2019 NHL Draft.
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Rangers' Kaapo Kakko: Agrees to one-year deal
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Kakko signed a one-year, $2.4 million contract with the Rangers on Thursday, Peter Baugh of The Athletic reports.
Kakko was set to become a restricted free agent in July after completing his two-year, $4.2 million contract. He struggled in 2023-24, recording just 13 goals and 19 points across 61 regular-season contests after setting career highs with 18 goals and 40 points in 82 regular-season outings in 2022-23. The 23-year-old can't be counted out, but he certainly hasn't lived up to his potential after being selected with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2019 NHL Draft. Look for him to open next season as a part of the Rangers' middle six.
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Rangers' Ryan Lindgren: Cracks rib in postseason
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Lindgren said Tuesday that he suffered a cracked rib in the Rangers' May 16 win over the Hurricanes in the second round of the Eastern Conference playoffs, Mollie Walker of the New York Post reports.
Lindgren was held out of a few practices leading up to the Eastern Conference Finals due to the injury, but he proceeded to play in all six of games in the Rangers' eventual 4-2 series loss to the Panthers, tallying two assists while averaging 19:07 in ice time. The 26-year-old will get some extended time to heal up over the offseason and should be fully cleared well in advance of training camp.
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Rangers' Jimmy Vesey: Rehabbing shoulder injury
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Vesey suffered a separated shoulder in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals against Florida, Dan Rosen of NHL.com reports.
Vesey still hoped to return at some point in the postseason, but now he'll spend a few weeks in New York to continue his rehab following the Rangers' elimination from the playoffs. The 31-year-old forward doesn't expect to need offseason surgery. He notched 13 goals and 26 points in 80 regular-season contests during the 2023-24 campaign.
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Rangers' Adam Fox: Adds late helper
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Fox recorded his eighth assist of the playoffs in Saturday's 2-1 season-ending loss against Florida in Game 6.
Fox had the secondary assist on Artemi Panarin's goal late in the third period, but New York couldn't pull off the comeback. Fox added one shot, three hits, two blocks and a plus-1 rating in 24:11 of ice time. The 26-year-old led New York's blueliners in points this postseason with eight. That is not surprising, but he did not score a goal in 16 contests. There's speculation that the star defenseman could've been battling an injury, but there should be clarification on that front in the coming days.
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Rangers' Vincent Trocheck: Records 20th point of playoffs
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Trocheck supplied a helper in Saturday's 2-1 loss to the Panthers in Game 6.
Trocheck had the primary assist on Artemi Panarin's marker late in the third period, which cut Florida's lead to one. Trocheck did not record a shot on goal Saturday, but he did have a whopping 10 hits and a plus-1 rating in 23:59 of ice time, the most of any Rangers forward. The 30-year-old center had a fantastic postseason, finishing with eight goals and 20 points in 16 appearances. Trocheck doubled up on his previous career high in the playoffs -- he recorded 10 points during the 2021-22 season with Carolina.
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Rangers' Artemi Panarin: Gives Rangers life in final minutes
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Panarin scored his fifth goal of the postseason in Saturday's 2-1 season-ending loss to Florida in Game 6.
Panarin hadn't scored in eight consecutive contests prior to Saturday before cutting Florida's lead to one in the final minutes of Game 6. It was only his fourth point of the series after he produced 11 points in 10 outings across the first two rounds. The 32-year-old concludes the postseason with 15 points (five goals) and a minus-2 rating in 16 appearances. Panarin has two years remaining on his contract with the Rangers heading into the offseason.
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Rangers' Igor Shesterkin: Stellar run comes to end
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Shesterkin made 32 saves on 34 shots in Saturday's 2-1 loss to the Panthers in Game 6.
Shesterkin was peppered again Saturday night, it marked the fourth consecutive outing that the netminder faced at least 34 shots on goal. The Rangers were just two wins away from reaching the Stanley Cup Finals, but they were out-shot in 13 of 16 postseason contests. New York also allowed 524 shots on goal in those 16 games, which highlights just how important Shesterkin was to the team's success. The 28-year-old concludes the 2023-24 postseason at 10-6 with a 2.34 GAA and a .927 save percentage.
Shesterkin will protect the road goal versus the Panthers in Saturday's Game 6, Mollie Walker of the New York Post reports.
Shesterkin will get the nod with the Rangers facing elimination for the first time in these playoffs. After starting the postseason with nine straight wins, Shesterkin has gone 3-5 with a 2.67 GAA and a .915 save percentage over his last eight contests. He's actually been sharper versus the Panthers with a .928 save percentage, but he hasn't gotten enough goal support. If the Rangers win Saturday, Game 7 is Monday at Madison Square Garden.
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Rangers' Jimmy Vesey: Practicing in non-contact jersey
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Vesey (upper body) is at practice Saturday in a non-contact jersey, Dan Rosen of NHL.com reports.
Vesey was injured eight days ago in Game 2 against Florida on May 24 and was deemed week-to-week. The 31-year-old winger has a goal and two assists through 12 appearances this postseason.
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Rangers' Blake Wheeler: Not practicing Saturday
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Wheeler (undisclosed) is not at Saturday's morning skate ahead of Game 6 against Florida, Vince Z. Mercogliano of USA Today reports.
According to a source, Wheeler is banged up, leaving his status unclear for Saturday's must-win contest. He has suited up in only one game since Feb. 15 because of a leg injury. Wheeler logged just 9:18 of ice time in Game 4 versus the Panthers on Tuesday before sitting out Thursday's Game 5. Anton Blidh has been filling in for Wheeler during Saturday's practice, but the 29-year-old Blidh probably won't be in the lineup even if Wheeler is unavailable.
Rangers' Alexis Lafreniere: Extends goal streak in loss
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Lafreniere scored a goal in the final minute of Thursday's 3-2 loss versus Florida in Game 5.
Lafreniere gave the Rangers life in the final minute of the third period to cut Florida's lead to one, but it wasn't enough to fuel a late comeback. Lafreniere moved into a three-way tie for the team lead in playoff goals with Chris Kreider and Vincent Trocheck. Lafreniere's eighth marker of the postseason Thursday also extended his goal streak to three games, and he has four tallies in that span. Lafreniere has come to develop a prowess for goal scoring during the postseason, but he hasn't registered an assist in seven consecutive contests. The 22-year-old is up to eight goals and 14 points with a plus-1 rating in 15 postseason appearances.
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Rangers' Mika Zibanejad: Two apples in loss
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Zibanejad had two primary assists in Thursday's 3-2 loss against the Panthers in Game 5.
Zibanejad's two helpers in Thursday's loss moved him past teammate Vincent Trocheck for the team lead in assists during the postseason. Surprisingly, it was Zibanejad's first two points of the series after logging 14 points in 10 games throughout the first two rounds. The 31-year-old center did not record a shot on goal Thursday, but he had a plus-1 rating in 24:03 of ice time, the most of any Ranger. In 15 playoff contests to this point, Zibanejad has 16 points and a team-leading 13 assists with an even plus-minus rating.
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Rangers' Chris Kreider: One and one in loss
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Kreider scored a shorthanded goal and added a helper in Thursday's 3-2 loss to Florida in Game 5.
Kreider registered his first points of the series in Thursday's home loss. The 33-year-old has cooled down significantly after recording 10 points in as many games across the first two rounds of the postseason. In addition to the multi-point effort in Game 5, Kreider had four shots on goal, four hits and a plus-1 rating in 22:04 of ice time. New York will need Kreider at the top of his game if they want to avoid elimination in Game 6 on Saturday. The first-line winger is tied for the team lead in goals during the postseason with eight. He's also added four assists and a minus-4 rating in 15 outings.
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Rangers' Igor Shesterkin: Facing elimination after loss
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Shesterkin turned aside 34 of 36 shots on goal in Thursday's 3-2 loss to the Panthers in Game 5.
Shesterkin had another great performance in Thursday's loss, but he wasn't able to steal the win for New York. It's his second consecutive loss after wins in Game 2 and Game 3 of the series. Shesterkin lost consecutive games one other time this postseason against Carolina, and a win followed in that instance. The Rangers will need that trend to continue as they look to stave off elimination in Game 6 on Saturday night in Florida. Overall this postseason, Shesterkin has a record of 10-5 with a 2.36 GAA and a .927 save percentage.
Rangers' Igor Shesterkin: Slated to start in Game 5
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Shesterkin will patrol the home crease versus Florida on Thursday, per Dan Rosen of NHL.com.
Shesterkin has been outstanding versus the Panthers in the Eastern Conference Finals, turning aside 120 of 130 shots (.923 save percentage). Shesterkin has been especially strong at home against Florida, allowing only three goals on 53 shots in the opening pair of games. He is 10-4 overall, with a 2.37 GAA in 14 playoff appearances in 2024.
