One exhibition game in the books, and what have we learned about the New York Rangers? If your answer is anything more than not much at all then you would be right.
Actually, one thought did come to mind, and that is coach Mike Sullivan correctly doesn’t think a whole bunch about the value of exhibition games. None of the key players for the Rangers even dressed as thankfully, Sullivan got the hint from Artemi Panarin’s lower body injury and did not risk the health of the key Rangers.
We really should be honest here and acknowledge that the Rangers roster is already pretty much set. If the Rangers decide to carry 22 players, then at best, maybe the spare forwards and defensemen jobs are the only spots that need to be decided.
Pretty sure that Brennan Othmann earned himself a ticket to the Hartford Wolfpack after his cheap hit in the third period. It isn’t as much the hit itself as the timing of it. Just a boneheaded play by Othmann, elbowing the Devils’ Calen Addison with just under five minutes remaining in the game.
Othmann will most likely have to talk to the NHL’s office of player safety, and if he does escape without a suspension, he did not make a good first impression on his new coach. And if he gets another chance to play again, then he had better do more than just one shot on goal.
It was a nice surprise to see 2024 fifth-round pick forward Nathan Aspinall in the lineup, as he was the only member of the junior players kept after the Rangers’ first training camp cuts. Seeing the 6’7 Aspinall skating on a line with 6’7 Dylan Roobroeck and 6’9 Matt Rempe, even if it was the fourth line, had to be the biggest line ever dressed in Rangers’ history.
And it also suggests that Aspinall has a good shot at earning an entry-level contract from the Rangers this year. That line did enough to warrant another game as a unit before things get serious and more roster cuts are made.
Roobroeck had a solid overall game, going 1-1-2 +2 on 17 shifts and 14:40 of ice time. Winning 89% of his faceoffs, along with two blocked shots and one hit, also helps last year’s leading goal scorer for the Hartford Wolfpack.
Game Action
Artyom Gonchar made his OHL debut on Sunday for the Sudbury Wolves as they took on the Niagara IceDogs. The IceDogs spanked the Wolves 5-1 as Gonchar was scoreless on three shots with a -3.
To be fair to Gonchar, he is learning how to adapt to the North American brand of hockey after growing up in the bigger European ice rinks. Most Europeans need about half a season to fully become comfortable playing in the smaller North American rinks.
Gonchar does look like a keeper as when he and his teammates develop chemistry with each other, then Gonchar is going to show a superior passing skill set.
