The Rangers’ 2021-22 season ended simply over three months in the past, nevertheless it’s already time to get again on the ice although the New York warmth would possibly point out in any other case.
Rookie camp will start at MSG Coaching Heart in Tarrytown on Wednesday and can run by way of Sept. 20. The camp will embrace two prospect video games on Sept. 16 and 17 in Allentown, Pa., towards their counterparts with the Flyers. The Rangers will then dive proper into the primary camp on the Sept. 21 earlier than the six-game preseason schedule commences on Sept 26 with a sport towards the Islanders on the Backyard.
The group might be evaluating just a few rookies intently as administration items collectively the Rangers’ roster for the 2022-23 season. Listed here are the highest prospects to look at at rookie camp and what the Rangers are hoping to find out about them:
Zac Jones: Can he defend effectively sufficient on the NHL stage?
Jones might be competing for the sixth/seventh defenseman function together with Libor Hajek and Matthew Robertson. There’s at all times an opportunity the Rangers might invite a veteran defenseman on knowledgeable tryout contract, however their cap state of affairs makes filling the job internally extra interesting. Hajek stands out as the most skilled of the three, with 4 seasons and 94 NHL video games underneath his belt, however Jones is a extremely expert choice who not solely has some NHL expertise of his personal, but additionally impressed with the AHL Wolf Pack final season.
“He was superior, I assumed he was our greatest participant for the whole thing of the season,” Hartford’s assistant coach turned participant growth assistant Casey Torres advised The Publish. “He was so dynamic. He created offense from excessive and low chance conditions. He competed laborious. Such nice imaginative and prescient on the ice and only a actual dynamic presence for us offensively on the again finish.”
Jones, drafted 68th total in 2019, totaled six assists by way of 10 video games in 2020-21 and 12 video games in 2021-22 for the Rangers. Not each younger defenseman’s transition to the NHL might be as seamless because it was for Braden Schneider, however Jones might enhance as he positive aspects extra confidence and familiarity with the tempo of the league. His skill to successfully quarterback the highest energy play for Massachusetts and the Wolf Pack set him aside, however Jones doesn’t have a transparent path to such a task for the Rangers, with Adam Fox and Jacob Trouba already cemented in these spots. Apart from additional strengthening his shot, the offensive facet of his sport shouldn't be a priority. The query now's whether or not he’s in a position to absolutely translate to the NHL his sturdy ice imaginative and prescient and skating skill in his defensive sport.
Will Cuylle: Is he higher off getting top-six minutes in Hartford or fourth-line minutes in New York?
The very last thing the Rangers need to do is rush one other prospect who isn’t prepared for the NHL. Nearly every little thing about Cuylle, nevertheless, screams NHL-ready. From his 6-foot-3, 212-pound construct, which he is aware of tips on how to use, to his highly effective left-handed shot, Cuylle has a possibility to show he can skate with the large guys this upcoming coaching camp. The Rangers’ No. 60 decide within the 2020 draft should beat out the likes of Dryden Hunt, Julien Gauthier, Jonny Brodzinski, Ryan Carpenter and Gustav Rydahl, however there’s definitely a path for Cuylle to make the Rangers’ roster in some unspecified time in the future, if not proper out of coaching camp.
The Rangers should resolve whether or not Cuylle would profit extra from massive AHL minutes or a a lot lesser function within the NHL.
Brennan Othmann: Can he crack the highest 9 with an excellent camp and persuade the Rangers to present him an audition?
Contemplating Othmann can’t be assigned to the AHL, the Rangers have few choices in relation to the left winger. He both will make their opening-night roster or might be assigned again to the Ontario Hockey League’s Flint Firebirds. There’s additionally a risk the Rangers need a longer have a look at Othmann within the lineup, which might earn him some NHL video games whereas administration makes a closing resolution. Othmann was chosen sixteenth total final yr, and his offensive abilities are finest fitted to the highest six. Given what number of younger wingers the Rangers have already got within the combine for the highest two traces — equivalent to Alexis Lafreniere, Kaapo Kakko and Vitali Kravtsov — Othmann could also be edged out of a spot this season.
Matthew Robertson: Can he enhance his consistency?
Robertson’s 6-4, 201-pound body makes him tough to disregard on the Rangers’ depth chart. Final season was his first with the Wolf Pack and he mixed for one purpose and 10 assists with 36 penalty minutes in 65 video games. It’s additionally value noting that 2021-22 was Robertson’s first season away from residence after he performed 5 seasons with the Western Hockey League’s Edmonton Oil Kings.
His first skilled season had its ups and downs, so it may be within the Rangers’ finest curiosity to let Robertson marinate within the AHL for a bit longer to realize some extra confidence. Now that Schneider has moved up and Jones might observe swimsuit, Robertson would have a possibility to be the highest defenseman in Hartford.
“He’s received that bodily presence,” Torres mentioned. “He does do an excellent job of ending performs within the defensive zone, like that’s a extremely good talent set for him.”
Bobby Trivigno: Can his total sport outweigh what he lacks in measurement?
As one of many newer gamers within the Rangers’ prospect pool, Trivigno might be seeking to make an impression. He’s not essentially as shut to creating the NHL roster as the remainder of the prospects on this record, however the feisty winger is a particular form of participant and is value looking for.
“The final weekend, he had a extremely good weekend stretch, gamers on the opposite group needed to kill him,” Torres mentioned. “I believe that’s a part of his sport. He brings such depth and such fireplace that it makes folks need to hate him, however I believe that’s a very good attribute.Seems like he had a extremely good summer season coaching off the ice, he’s added some muscle. He’s definitely doing every little thing in his energy to present himself a shot.”
The first concern surrounding Trivigno is his 5-8 stature — even when he performs a a lot larger sport than his measurement signifies.
Post a Comment