RALEIGH, N.C — There’s one thing about enjoying towards your former group within the NHL.
Gamers constantly acknowledge that the primary time is at all times unusual, or surreal. And the extra time spent with one group earlier than transferring on to a different, the weirder it's. Generally there’s a necessity for redemption or a longing to show one thing to the membership that determined to not maintain you.
There are six acquainted faces for the Rangers within the Hurricanes’ locker room forward of the groups’ second-round Stanley Cup playoff matchup, which commences Wednesday night time at PNC Area.
5 of these former Blueshirts — Jesper Quick, Tony DeAngelo, Brady Skjei, Brendan Smith and Antti Raanta — have been anticipated to be staples in Carolina’s lineup throughout this collection. Derek Stepan, who performed seven seasons with the Rangers, skated in three video games for Carolina in Spherical 1, however possible will probably be scratched barring accidents or needed lineup tweaks.
Nonetheless, that’s sufficient former teammates to make the Rangers do a double take on the different finish of the ice.
“It’s slightly bizarre, however that’s the way it goes,” Quick stated earlier than Sport 1 Wednesday night time. “There’s at all times a enterprise facet to it.”
Quick was a five-time winner of the Gamers’ Participant award, given to the Ranger “who finest exemplifies what it means to be a group participant” as decided by his teammates. Skjei was a key defenseman for the Rangers who earned a six-year deal in July 2018 and labored his manner as much as the highest pair, however may by no means fairly rise to the expectations of the function.
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Raanta, who's stepping in for the Hurricanes’ injured No. 1 netminder, Frederik Andersen, and Stepan solely overlapped with Chris Kreider and Mika Zibanejad throughout their tenures in New York. However the remainder of the previous Blueshirts have been as soon as an integral a part of this present Rangers group.
Smith discovered a distinct segment depth function with the Rangers, enjoying as a ahead and a defenseman, and was additionally a vital locker-room presence who received the John Halligan Good Man Award, which “acknowledges a participant for his or her cooperation with the media.”
And, properly, everyone knows what occurred with DeAngelo: The Rangers’ prime offense-minded defenseman was exiled after a slew of missteps away from the ice — which included a postgame altercation with backup goalie Alexandar Georgiev — that compelled the group to purchase him out final July.
With all of the familiarity, the previous Rangers in all probability have a greater understanding of this group than different opponents would.
“There’s nonetheless some tendencies, clearly,” Smith stated. “I feel [coach] Gerard Gallant has finished a unbelievable job with that group. He’s harnessed and moved them in the suitable course. They made some nice offseason acquisitions. However their tendencies by training with them for 4 and a half years, so I do know a few of these guys there. Clearly Kreids, Mika, Breadman [Artemi Panarin]. You may undergo the record.
“However they’ve clearly excelled extra and the opposite factor is you bought take a look at quite a bit to Igor [Shesterkin]. I feel he’s performed unbelievable, their energy play is unbelievable. There’s a few areas that we have now to concentrate on.”
Quick famous there have been extra conversations between the previous Rangers group earlier within the season. However because the Hurricanes performed the Rangers 4 instances within the common season, Quick stated it’s behind them.
The truth that the Rangers have gotten thus far is not any shock to Quick, he stated. Citing the Rangers’ latest draft years and the gamers they acquired within the offseason, Quick identified the Rangers have been proper behind the Hurricanes within the Metropolitan Division standings this season.
“Clearly, enjoying there and having a pair mates over there,” Smith stated. “I feel it will likely be that rather more to get on the ice and just be sure you compete.”
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