Rangers Players Seek Championship Inspiration from Knicks' Recent Title
Several Rangers players attended the Knicks' championship ceremony, drawing motivation from the team's long-awaited success.
Seven members of the New York Rangers hockey team attended the Madison Square Garden ceremony on Tuesday where the Knicks received their championship rings and raised a banner.
Forwards Vladislav Gavrikov, Sean Durzi, Alexis Lafrenière, Will Cuylle, and defensemen Noah Laba, Gabe Perreault, and Eeli Tolvanen were present for the event. Some players were seen wearing commemorative shirts given to fans.
The Knicks' championship victory marked their first title since 1973. The ceremony served as a reminder of the potential for a team to capture New York City's attention and offered inspiration for the Rangers, whose own championship drought dates back to 1994.
"It's inspiring when the group has achieved the ultimate success in their respective sport," Rangers head coach Mike Sullivan said Wednesday. "I think when it's close to you — these guys, we have lunch with the Knicks a lot, so there's some familiarity."
Both the Rangers and Knicks utilize the cafeteria at the MSG Training Center in Tarrytown, leading to occasional interactions between the teams. Gavrikov described feeling goosebumps while watching highlights of the Knicks' playoff run and said the subsequent parade was "probably one of the best experiences for them."
Players received 22-carat rings featuring miniature replicas of Madison Square Garden. The ceremony preceded the Knicks' game against the 76ers.
Gavrikov expressed a desire to experience similar success. Perreault, who attended a Knicks playoff game during their run, stated it would be "super cool" for the Rangers to win a championship.
While the Knicks ended a 50-year championship drought, the Rangers are looking to win their first Stanley Cup since 1994.
In other team news, the Rangers continue to work on their power play, which ranked 18th in the NHL entering Wednesday's games. Coach Sullivan emphasized the importance of shooting the puck on the power play to create opportunities.
Durzi did not practice Wednesday due to maintenance. Luke Glendening, who recently signed a professional tryout contract with the Rangers, practiced with the team and is being evaluated for a potential roster spot.