The New York Rangers practiced today in preparation for back-to-back contests Saturday and Sunday. Tuesday’s lines have been blendered, while a small change was also made to the power play units. A winger looks likely to make his NHL debut, while the blue line also may have some changes.
Forwards
Panarin – Zibanejad – Raddysh
Cuylle – Miller – Lafrenière
Sheary – Laba – Brodzinski
Pärssinen – Carrick – Chmelař
– Every line has received a change. Mika Zibanejad was moved back to center, joined now by Artemi Panarin and Taylor Raddysh. I don’t love that top line but my guess is that it’s a short-term move with Vincent Trocheck close to returning.
– Panarin, pointless in the last 6, shaved his hair off again. The last time he did that, he had a big season. Change your look, change your luck is the hope.
– Trocheck continues to skate with the team in a red non-contact jersey. He won’t play, but he’s going with the Rangers to Detroit. My guess is that he likely sits on Saturday but should be back early next week.
– JT Miller replaces Noah Laba between Will Cuylle and Alexis Lafreniere. This line could be the team’s best on Friday.
– Laba goes from centering two possible scorers to more of a checking line role as he is now joined by Conor Sheary and Jonny Brodzinski. Sheary, and not Adam Edstrom, should likely be the scratch for Jaroslav Chmelař. Though Sheary is better served to a checking rather than scoring role, so his inclusion on the third line is fine, not ideal, and he could be the odd man out for Trocheck.
– Chmelař has been playing on the first line in Hartford, but can fit on the fourth line as he brings speed and physicality. Playing him next to Sam Carrick and Jusso Parsinnen is fine, especially since Parsinnen has been good defensively this year. I could see Chmelař receiving a shot on the third line next to Laba in the future.
Blueline
The defensive pairs rotated at times. Connor Mackey was with Braden Schneider quite a bit and Matthew Robertson bounced around. Looks like there’s a chance Mackey slots in on the third pair with Carson Soucy and Will Borgen on the second pair.
– Urho Vaakanainen (lower-body injury) did not practice on Thursday, but he will also accompany the Rangers to Detroit
Power Play Changes
The power play has been brutal and changes are certainly needed. Cuylle moves up a unit with Lafreniere sliding down, and he should be the net front presence. That alone won’t make a difference unless the group stops being stagnant and has quicker puck and player movement. But creating traffic in front of the net and their goalie is a major need to jumpstart a moribund attack.
PP1 is: Fox-Panarin-Miller-Mika-Cuylle
PP2 is: Schneider-Lafreniere-Brodzinski-Sheary-Raddysh
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