Media Bytes: The Vibes Return, Brady Tkachuk Whispers, Trocheck Trades, The Morrow Problem

Welcome back to Media Bytes, a weekly column from Blueshirt Banter. Every Sunday, we’ll help you start the week right with a quick catch-up on the latest stories and developments around the New York Rangers and the broader NHL media landscape.

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The Vibes Are Vibing Again

1. On Monday’s episode of Tri-State Hockey, all three hosts praised the Rangers’ strong play down the stretch, pointing to a visible—and palpable—shift in the team’s energy. After nearly two seasons where the vibe around the team felt stuck in a ditch, the recent stretch has fans genuinely excited about the organization’s direction again.

“Hope sells and fans are smart,” Arthur Staple said. “They understand that when a team's not going well, all you want is to see some promise—see the reason behind why they're doing what they're doing.”

In Staple’s view, the organization simply hasn’t provided that clarity or promise for much of the last year and a half. Even if it’s arriving late in what has largely been a lost season, he said the recent surge has been a welcome change.

“What these guys are doing energizes everyone and pushes everyone,” Staple continued, describing last season in particular as having the “worst vibes that any of us have ever been around.”

“They’re fun to watch and they’re competing,” Mike Rupp added. “I don’t believe this team needs to gut everything out. I just think they need to have conversations with some veteran guys to make sure everyone’s on the same page.”

Rupp did temper expectations, however, noting that while things are trending upward, the Rangers still have work to do before getting back to where they once were.

“I don’t believe it’s going to be a quick turnaround,” he said, adding that progress could still come faster than expected thanks to encouraging signs from key players like Mika Zibanejad, Gabe Perreault, Alexis Lafrenière, and Adam Fox.

Hope may have arrived late—but after the last two seasons, late still beats never.

Hope, Hype, and the Next Move

2. When Jonny Lazarus asked the group to predict the next major move for the Rangers, both Staple and Rupp landed on the same possibility: a Vincent Trocheck trade.

“I think the center market is going to be so thin free-agent-wise, and even trade-wise,” Staple said. “It was a gamble by Chris Drury to keep him at the deadline, but that gamble might still pay off.”

Staple admitted the Rangers may not ultimately receive a better offer than what could have been available at the deadline. Still, as the draft approaches, he believes the team will ultimately land a strong return.

“I think they'll get something good for him, and I think they'll be better for it.”

Waiting on Trocheck may prove risky—but the Rangers clearly believe the potential payoff is worth it. And if the market tightens the way Staple expects, Trocheck will almost certainly end up being the Rangers’ most valuable card to play.

3. Lazarus also floated a scenario of his own, referencing a conversation he had with former NHLer Jason Demers. His idea: a change-of-scenery swap that would send Braden Schneider to Buffalo for Michael Kesselring.

“Kesselring hasn’t been playing much,” Lazarus said. “He’s a big, right-handed shot defenseman who might need a change of scenery, just like Schneider. I think it could make sense for both teams—that’s a swap I’d like to see.”

There’s little reason to doubt the steady reporting that the Rangers remain high on Schneider, so this idea may be a long shot. But sometimes a change-of-scenery swap is exactly what both teams—and both players—need.