Neil Smith on the Knicks Parade, Rangers Rebuild & the Carolina Cup | Rink Rap

Neil Smith on the Knicks Parade, Rangers Rebuild & the Carolina Cup | Rink Rap

Author: Forever Blueshirts June 16, 2026 Duration: 1:03:58
Former Rangers GM Neil Smith joins Jim Cerny on the 32nd anniversary of the 1994 Stanley Cup championship to share what winning in New York truly feels like — and what the Knicks are about to experience. Neil weighs in on Carolina's Cup run, the goalie switch that may have flipped the series, and why he's skeptical of the Rangers' current direction, including the Trocheck trade talk. Then Jim goes solo on K'Andre Miller's championship moment, why the Rangers made that trade in the first place, and what to expect from New York at No. 5 in the upcoming NHL Draft.#RinkRap #NewYorkRangers #NYRangers #NHLDraft #KAndreMiller #NeilSmith #CarolinaHurricanesChapters:0:00 - Intro & 32nd Anniversary of the '94 Rangers Cup 1:27 - Neil Smith joins Jim Cerny 3:35 - Neil on the Raleigh atmosphere & Carolina winning the Cup 5:00 - What winning in New York means — and what the Knicks are about to feel 5:20 - Neil: "I was overwhelmed" at the '94 parade 10:57 - Rangers/Knicks parallels: No. 11, team effort, Jalen Brunson vs. Messier 19:06 - Jordan Staal's Conn Smythe run & Brandon Buscemi's clutch performance 21:28 - The goalie switch: why Buscemi may have been Carolina's secret weapon 27:44 - Rangers' offseason: restocking the shelves, 11 draft picks 28:33 - Trocheck trade talk: Neil questions the move 29:50 - "This can't be retooled" — Neil on the Rangers' rebuild semantics 33:45 - JT Miller, Mike Sullivan & "I don't understand what they're doing" 40:00 - The pressure of being Rangers GM in New York 42:50 - The weight of winning: post-Cup pressure and expectations 47:57 - Jim solo: K'Andre Miller wins the Cup, Rangers ties everywhere 50:30 - Why the Rangers traded Miller — and can we judge that trade yet? 55:30 - Gavrikov disillusionment reports: what Jim is hearing 59:18 - NHL Draft preview: No. 5 pick options for the Rangers 1:01:25 - Jim's pick: Carson Carls as the most complete option at No. 5 1:03:14 - Outro

For dedicated fans of the New York Rangers, there's a familiar voice that has been part of the journey for decades. Rink Rap brings you that voice, with host Jim Cerny drawing from three full decades of covering the team and the NHL to offer context you simply won't find elsewhere. This isn't just reaction; it's seasoned perspective that connects today's lineup and last night's game to the broader history and intricate mechanics of professional hockey. Each episode blends that deep insight with top-flight interviews, pulling in voices from around the league to give a comprehensive view of the Blueshirts' world. Produced by Forever Blueshirts, the Rink Rap podcast feels like a conversation with the most knowledgeable person in your section, breaking down strategy, roster moves, and the emotional rollercoaster of a long season. It’s where passion for the team meets an insider's understanding, making every win, loss, and trade deadline dissected with authority and a genuine love for the game. Tune in for the analysis that goes beyond the highlight reel, grounded in thirty years of watching this franchise evolve.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 50

Rink Rap | A New York Rangers Podcast from Forever Blueshirts
Podcast Episodes
The Dorofeyev Trade & Draft Night [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:06
Jim breaks down why Pavel Dorofeyev is the perfect fit up front, then unpacks the Rangers' surprise pick of Alberts Šmits over fan-favorite Chase Reid at No. 5.
Pettersson, Trocheck & the Blue Line Overhaul [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:51
The Marcus Pettersson trade, the Vincent Trocheck deal for Sean Durzi, and why the Rangers are deliberately buying time for their prospects instead of rushing them.
The Rangers The Goalie Controversy [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 14:17
Dylan Garand vs. Joonas Korpisalo splits the fanbase, plus a closer look at what the Rangers are getting in Cole Beaudoin.
Neil Smith: "I Don't Understand the Plan" [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 47:56
The '94 Cup-winning GM praises the Knicks' run, shares what overwhelmed him at the '94 parade, breaks down Carolina's Cup-clinching goalie change, and questions whether the Rangers' retool is really a plan at all.