The New York Rangers opened training camp on Wednesday, but on-ice work began Thursday. With the team’s first pre-season game tomorrow, New York has had three days to practice as units while scrimmaging each day. What have we learned or seen to date?
Days 1 and 2
The groups on those two days made it fairly clear who is on the inside and who may be on the outside looking in. Group A was stacked with the 14 forwards, eight blueliners and two goalies who look to be the looks for the roster or have a realistic shot at breaking camp. From Group B, only Adam Sykora up front and Dylan Garard in net appear to have a chance at unseating those in the first group. I am a smidge surprised that Joonas Korpisalo and not Garard is in Group A.
Urho Vaakanainen and Vincent Iorio, both of whom finished last season with the NHL club and would have to clear waivers to go to AHL Hartford, were in the second group. Coach Mike Sullivan said the Rangers could carry three goalies, which would negate the risk of losing Garand or Korpisalo on waivers, but he sounded hesitant to do it for too long.
The lines were:
Perreault-Zibanejad-Lafrenière
Dorofeyev-Miller-Bjorkstrand
Cuylle-Laba-Tolvanen (Raddysh)
Kartye-Veleno-Chmelař (Rempe)
The top line is the same top line that ended last season. Pavel Dorofeyev is skating on the second line with Gabe Perreault on the first unit. New York’s third line is what we expected, while Jaroslav Chmelař received the first chance at right wing on the final trio.
Matt Rempe, see more below, cannot be sent down without passing through waivers. This increases his chances of making the team. Rempe, fully healthy after his hand injury and surgery, coupled with rushing back too soon last season, has had a strong camp.
Gavrikov-Fox
Pettersson-Durzi
Šmits-Schneider
Robertson-Morrow
The Rangers’ top four are as we expected entering camp. Those hoping for Alberts Šmits to make the team got a boost with his placement Thursday. Matthew Robertson, projected as the sixth d-man, was on the extra pair with Scott Morrow.
Shesterkin
Korpisalo
Day 3
Groups are the same. We will see if that changes at all for Monday’s game. If not, what we have seen so far is what we will get September 29 when the season opens.
- Cuylle-Laba-Tolvanen has been the most consistent line in the early days of camp.
- Rempe is having a solid start to camp. As noted above, he may be a lock for the Opening Day lineup, though that does not mean he will be on the initial active roster. If he continues this type of play into the preseason games, look for him to be the 12th forward.
- Tye Kartye had a pair of goals on Saturday. His work ethic is evident every time he steps on the ice. Kartye is a perfect bottom-six winger.
- Adam Sykora also has been good. In my opinion, Sykora belongs on this team and on the ice. But he may get squeezed out.
- Šmits followed a good day Friday with a solid day Saturday. His odds of breaking camp, making the lineup, and staying out of Hartford continue to grow.
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