Colin Stephenson

LAS VEGAS – As the players are coming off the board in the first round of the NHL Draft Friday night in the glittering Sphere, Rangers general

Rangers defenseman Adam Fox, of Jericho, and his childhood friend, Boston Bruins defenseman Charlie McAvoy, of Long Beach, were among the First Six

A report said Drury was negotiating with Trouba's hometown Detroit Red Wings, and a TV report suggested the trade might happen at some point Saturday.

Doing it quickly would be best for both parties. If Drury could complete a trade before noon Monday, when free agency begins, that would help the team, too.

One by one, all the big names kept coming off the board as the NHL free-agent signing period began Monday. And the Rangers hadn't gotten any of them.

The Rangers have released their schedule for the 2024-25 NHL regular season, beginning with a trip to face the Penguins on Oct. 9 and a home opener against the Utah Hockey Club on Oct. 12.

On the second day of free agency, the Rangers were relatively quiet, their only moves being to sign two players for their AHL affiliate in Hartford, defenseman Casey Fitzgerald and forward Bo Groulx.

The Rangers reportedly were close to trading their captain to the Red Wings before the deal fell apart.

There's still a lot of summer left, and GM Chris Drury could still make a trade or two to reshape the Rangers' roster.

Late in the 2023-24 season, and again late in the playoffs, young defenseman Braden Schneider stepped up from his role on the Rangers' third defensive