The New York Rangers are in a tough spot this season as they continue to struggle after a slow start to their 2024-25 campaign. After trading both Jacob Trouba and Kappo Kakko, it seems as though they aren’t done making moves in hopes of fighting their way back into a playoff spot.

It is a brand new year, and one of the best practices of celebration is to reminisce on the prior one. In the world of hockey, a calendar year can mean a world of change for a fan, a player, a team, and an entire franchise.

The New York Rangers and Utah Hockey Club share a commonality of being .500 teams and facing similar deficits in the wild-card races of their respective conferences.

After Utah's first matchup against the Rangers delivered a high scoring and dramatic game, more of the same happened the second time around. Both teams went back and forth all night, but the Rangers secured the 4-3 win after it got its first lead of the game in the third.

The Flames said in a news release Monday that Al MacNeil died Sunday in Calgary. No cause of death was provided.

“The hockey world lost an icon today with the passing of Al MacNeil,” said Flames President of Hockey Operations Don Maloney. “‘Chopper’ was a Stanley Cup champion and a Calder Cup champion but most importantly ‘he was our friend and mentor. We will sincerely miss his company and our conversations.”

We are deeply saddened to announce the passing of long-time Flames executive and former head coach Al MacNeil. Al passed away at the age of 89 years, on Jan. 5, 2025, surrounded by his family in Calgary: https://t.co/4KV9YBjYwA You will be so missed, Chopper. Rest in peace ❤️ pic.twitter.com/8JVVh6PS1B