Julien Gauthier mentioned he knew he had two choices when he was assigned to AHL Hartford out of coaching camp in the beginning of October.
He may both pout and work onerous, the 25-year-old winger mentioned, or work onerous and attempt to earn the precise to be the Rangers’ first recall .
“I’m probably not a quitter,” Gauthier mentioned after aiding on Zac Jones’ game-winning aim and scoring one in every of his personal within the Rangers’ 6-3 win over the Stars on Saturday afternoon. “I do know I can play within the NHL, so I took on extra of a mentality of getting extra reps, getting extra ice time and dealing on my sport. I didn’t actually pout or something. I wished to get again up right here as quickly as attainable.”
It seems the Rangers’ depth pool can be extra of an element this season, contemplating the slew of accidents the membership has already handled by means of the primary 10 video games. That wasn’t the case final season, when the Rangers largely received away with hardly any remembers from the Wolf Pack resulting from luck on the damage entrance.
Plus, the Rangers have already made it clear they like to hold 22 gamers as an alternative of 23 for cap area functions forward of the commerce deadline. So when totally wholesome, one can count on the workforce to ship a participant down when attainable.
In the meanwhile, nonetheless, Filip Chytil (higher physique) and Vitali Kravtsov (higher physique) are unavailable. Since they misplaced Dryden Hunt to the Avalanche, who picked up the winger on the waiver wire, the Rangers turned to Gauthier. Apart from goalie Louis Domingue and his 142 NHL video games, Gauthier has the second most NHL expertise on the Wolf Pack with 99 video games underneath his belt. Jonny Brodzinski is subsequent with 84.
“There’s little doubt he was upset when he went down and he wished to get again right here as quickly as attainable,” head coach Gerard Gallant mentioned of Gauthier. “He went down there, didn’t say a lot, he labored onerous and now he received his probability. Hopefully, he’s going to proceed to play the identical manner as a result of he’s performed rather well within the final two video games he performed and actual completely satisfied to see him put the puck within the internet. That’s good for his confidence.”
Gauthier, who has all of the instruments to be a full-time NHLer however remains to be engaged on placing all of it collectively, has been stable for the Rangers in his first three video games of the season. Whereas the aim and help in Dallas are his solely factors, Gauthier has been efficient on the forecheck and has introduced a bodily ingredient to the third line.
“It's very nice,” Gauthier mentioned of contributing for the Rangers. “You realize, began down within the AHL, received referred to as up and it’s good to supply and really feel like a part of the workforce and the whole lot. Getting again within the lineup and the whole lot.”
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