As we approach the final week of August, the opening of training camp is almost around the corner. Granted, it’s still a few weeks away. Nevertheless, considering how long the off-season has been for the New York Rangers and how it has seemed to drag on, around the corner is not a bad thing. The Rangers must flesh out their bottom-six forward group.
Larry Brooks certainly gave his view – rather clearly – two weeks ago:
“I must confess that I have no idea what the organization sees in Juuso Parssinen to make him the de facto third-line center if Zibanejad plays the wing. Year after year, administration after administration, the Rangers simply refuse to import physically intimidating players.
Just watch Conor Sheary take a roster spot from Matt Rempe. I guess I woke up a little cranky today..”
General manager Chris Drury believes Parssinen is worth a look as the 3C. However, I am skeptical. What happens if Parssinen fails to hold down the role? If not, then one of the young ‘uns will need to prove that he is ready for a top-six wing role. Consequently, this allows or requires Zibanejad to move back to center.
Rangers Do Not Lack For Options
In the mix for the third line are: Parsinnen, Brett Berard, Brennan Othmann, Gabe Perrreault, Taylor Raddysh, Sheary, and Jonny Brodzinski. Berard, recovering from labrum surgery, certainly showed last season that he doesn’t back down from anyone and brings energy consistently. Othmann and Perreault, two of the Rangers’ top-three prospects, will get every chance in camp to show that they belong in the NHL and are ready for a prime role. It’s possible that both could break camp with the team. However, if that happens, the Rangers must reconfigure their lines.
Sheary, signed to a PTO, played for Sullivan in Pittsburgh. Raddysh signed a two-year, $3 million contract with the Rangers this offseason. Sullivan could shuttle Brodzinski between center and wing. He’s a fair bet to usurp Parssinen. Likewise, I would not be shocked if Raddysh opens the season as the third line right wing.
Fourth Line Candidates
I didn’t cover the three I believe should start the season as the fourth line. The incumbents showed last year they could be an effective trio. Prior to injury, Adam Edstrom showed last season that he can be an effective checking line winger. He dished out 94 hits in 51 games. Sam Carrick was likely the best free agent signing Drury made in the 2024 offseason. Many questioned his three-year, $3 million deal. Subsequently, he proved to be a bargain. Carrick had a career-high 20 points and 54.2 percent faceoff percentage with 137 hits as the fourth-line center. Don’t mess with success, just leave him there.
Pencil in Matt Rempe as the third member of this line. Edstrom-Carrick-Rempe showed they could change a game’s momentum. Rempe did a much better job in the second half of the season, staying out of the penalty box. Nevertheless, his lineup spot is not guaranteed. The other two are near locks. Many of those mentioned above could slot into this spot. Presumably, Sheary or Raddysh would be the favorites to break camp on the bottom end of the roster.
My biggest concern right now is Othmann. Is he ready to take the next step or another fails to develop first rounder? To me you leave the fourth line intact to start the season (big ed-carrick-rempe) and maybe rotate in sheary if he has a good camp and is signed. Yes parsnips is a question at 3c but if one of the kids can jump up at top 6 wing, a 1-2-3 of Miller -Zib-troch is pretty damn strong
Something needs to happen
Found you guys. Holy smokes
Welcome!
I feel like multiple people mentioned we were here and that you were just resistant to leave lol. Lots of folks still haven’t migrated over yet – wonder if they’re unaware as well.
I will eventually get up an exit blog, trying to determine what to say.
I just want to know what goes through the guy’s head (you know who). Write a tell all
I had no idea
Welcome to the pool, come on in, water is nice
Try to get us a forum style section instead of comments plz thx
There is a forum section.
https://hockeyhotstove.com/forums/forum/ew-york-rangers/
Ah, I see
Thanks
I have been searching for months! Jan I have missed your blogs. I was so bummed and didn’t know what was happening. Then I saw a comment about someone moving over to this blog… then here you are!
It’s good to be back and reading your stuff again Jan. Thank you!
JBrod filled in admirably and many times was expected to do more than he was capable of. He can’t be a regular member of this team if it’s going anywhere. Not a 4th line type player. Not good enough to be in the top 9 of a contending team
Full time player, no. Periodic replacement when needed, absolutely.
I said several times we have a lot of depth, bottom 6 players. On one hand its a nice thing to have, on the other hand, with a few needs in the lineup it would be nice to consolidate a few of those pieces to make a trade for a more permanent/long-term fixture. I really like Berard for the 3rd line and feel like thats a player to build a third line with, kind of like a Hagelin, not big but tenacious, pesky and got wheels.
We know what the scouting report said of Othmann, we havent seen much of it. Would be nice to see him take the next step, however there really is no room for him in the top 6 unless Trocheck is moved to 3C and Zib to 2C. This would open up a wing position for him. Then you can roll (Cuylle, Miller, LAF)/(Panarin, Zib, Othmann)/(Berard, Trocheck, Raddysh). Which on the surface, depth wise, thats 3 quite solid lines. Can also do (Panarin, Miller, Othmann)/(Cuylle, Zib, LAF) which maybe better to unlock Othmann, and the Zib line is a lot like when he centered Kreider and Buch.
Then you have a bunch of other players: Parssinen, Edstrom, Rempe, Carrick, Sheary, Brodz as well as a few of the AHL players Roobroeck, Sykora.
But then… you have the other wild card, Perreault. Who lets be real, everyone is penning into a top 6 role. So many players, not enough spots.
Saver?
He used periods, commas and white space, so the answer is no. 🙂
I think if the 4th line stays as is, the thrid line has many many options. You have Pars as the cneter, with many wing options. As stated before, if one of the wing guys really steps up, maybe switch Zib back to center on the second line with Panarin and move Trocheck to the thrid line center. Many movable parts and options. Seems like a fluid situation. Let training camp start already.
We are getting closer to camp. Very curious to see initial combinations as well as those in games. That could be a tell as to the future groupings and units. Some look to be set in stone.
Hi guys! Took me a while to find this place. Been staring at Hockeybuzz for months waiting for your next post Jan. Never been a member on Hockeybuzz so I’ve never posted anything in the comment section. The site was awful and I couldn’t register outside the states. Although, I’ve been reading every post and all you guys comments for the last 8 years or so 😀 Feels like a know almost everyone of you veterans in the comment section!
Looking forward to be able to comment on your blogs Jan and I really appreciate your time and content.
Best
From Stockholm, Sweden.
Glad to have you here! You can either comment on blogs directly or, if you wish, do it on the Fan Forum.
https://hockeyhotstove.com/community/
Food for thought. Literally the ONLY thing about hockeybuzz that worked was the article written by team writer with forum style comments section attached. I’ll be here regardless, but I think a lot of us were pretty happy with that part.
The fact that you respond at all is a vast improvement from the other place and it’s refreshing that you seem to care about the people who visit your site. So thank you for that
There is a forum. As of now, the column is first posted to the site. Then I go to the forum and add the column with a quick question. Comments can be left in the forum as a conversation
There’s a way to attach each article to the forum, so we will be doing that going forward. But you also still have the option of commenting to blog as you did here OR by clicking on the related forum section. Thanks!
Thanks guys
God damn camp needs to start like now
finding you guys was impossible.
kept my user name for you ricky
I really don’t want to keep mine. I haven’t watched the show it’s from since I made it 7 years ago
I’m with you there. Used to love it and then idk I guess with them taking too long between seasons I just lost interest? Also maybe because of that Anna Kendrick show about the sex doll I think of Dan Harmon in a different light now lol
New blog posting today. Will be added as a forum topic once posted to facilitate discussions