Training Camp Preview
With the development camp now under wraps, we move onto the official training camp, bringing us one step closer to pre-season. It seems as though everyone from development camp with the exception of Brody Lamb will be brought to training camp to take the ice with NHL and AHLers alike, all to compete for a 2021-22 New York Rangers roster spot.
So, what can we expect? Well, with an all new coaching and management staff it’s safe to assume we can’t really expect anything. The entire depth chart of the organization will be looked at with a fresh set of eyes. Sure, we pretty much know going into camp what the final roster will look like with the exception of a couple questions. Who will make the team and be that third pairing defender out of Lundkvist, Schneider or Jones? Will Kevin Rooney be the fourth line center or will Morgan Barron? Who’s going to play on that line with Panarin and Strome? What positions will guys like Chytil and Blais play? Are there any dark horses who have a shot at making this team?
The long and short of it is Nils Lundkvist is the favorite to make the team on that third pairing. The Rangers pretty much went out and got a perfect fellow swede defense partner for him and the praise about him coming into the season is very high. I think Schenider and Jones both certainly have the opportunity to beat him out for the role but I wouldn’t count on it unless Lundkvist struggles or one of them has an outstanding preseason. As far as the fourth line center role goes, the Rangers chose to protect Kevin Rooney in the expansion draft therefore I find it difficult to see competition for that role. Again, Morgan Barron would have to have a great camp and prove that he’s NHL ready.
It’s hard to guess what Head Coach Gerard Gallant is going to do with that right wing position next to Strome and Panarin. If I had to guess, It’s between Kravtsov and Goodrow but I wouldn’t rule out Sammy Blais… Blais has the potential to be a utility guy of sorts, he prefers the right side but can play the left and can even play center in a pinch. Assuming he isn't impressive enough to be on that second line, I would say he’s a lock for the fourth line left wing spot with Rooney and Reaves.
As far as dark horses go, Will Cuylee had a very impressive development camp and if he carries that into pre-season, I wouldn’t be too surprised if he makes the team. Gallant doesn’t like playing kids on the fourth line but Cuylee’s style of play can make for an exception. Vince Mercogliano also talked about Justin Richards and how the Rangers really liked him going into last season, however bouts with COVID and injury delayed his progress and limited him to one NHL game at the very end of the season. If he or Johnny Brodzinski could win some faceoffs and be a role type player, they could sneak in as a healthy scratch, occasional fourth line option.
Line Combination Fun
All that in mind, I’m going to spitball some line combinations I’d be interested in seeing the first couple days of camp and preseason…
Game 1:
Lafreniere - Zibanejad - Kakko
Hunt - Rooney - Blais
Cuylee - Barron - Reaves
Gettinger - Richards - Ronning
Miller - Trouba
Nemeth - Lundkvist
Robertson - Skinner
Georgiev - Kinkaid
Kakko and Lafreniere together on the same line is something that like many fans, Gerard Gallant will surely be interested in testing out. I think the long term picture for the Rangers certainly has these two as linemates, especially after that highlight real passing play they had in that game against the Capitals last season. There’s a good chance they end up on that top line with Zibanejad, however it all comes down to how their development has come along since last season. Hunt/Rooney/Blais can be an interesting fourth line option for games Ryan Reaves isn’t in the line up.
On the flipside, I’d be interested to see Reaves on a line with the two younger guys who are pushing to make the team in that fourth line role. Gettinger/Richards/Ronning could be a first line in Harford but are also guys who have all either gotten a taste of the NHL or have come close. The defense pairings are pretty self explanatory.. Trouba/Miller will likely be the second pairing and Nemeth/Lundkvist is the favorite to be the third. Robertson and Skinner are the A1 type prospects that will have the chance to impress and prove their futures. Georgiev and Kinkaid split the game.
Game 2:
Panarin - Strome - Goodrow
Kreider - Chytil - Kravtsov
McKegg - Brodzinski - Gauthier
Othmann - Henriksson - Pajuniemi
Lindgren - Fox
Hajek - Jones
Tinordi - Schneider
Sheshterkin - Huska
I mentioned early Goodrow has a solid chance of landing on that second line with Panarin and Strome. Goodrow is an upgrade from Colin Blackwell and can essentially play that same role he did, do all the dirty work while Panarin and Strome score the goals. Kreider’s place on this team will certainly be interesting. Unless he opts to play the right side, he might find himself on the third line which in my opinion, isn’t a bad idea. I like his chemistry with Chytil and am interested to see what they could do with Kravtsov. Gallant can also rotate Kreider, Goodrow and Kravtsov all on that second line right wing and do a lot of experimenting. McKegg/Brodzinski/Gauthier are three guys like Gettinger, Richards and Ronning who are fighting between a fourth line NHL role and a top six AHL role, will be interesting to see what they can do.
Othmann/Henrikkson/Pajuniemi is a fun one, Othmann looked good for his age in camp but will undoubtedly require more seasoning in major juniors. Pajuniemi also looked good in development camp but given his style of play, the Rangers likely don’t have a role for him in their line up quite yet. Lindgren/Fox is a lock on the top pairing, Jones and Hajek are two guys who are competing for that last defense spot. Schneider/Tinordi would be very interesting to see as they can kind of be looked at as a “fourth pairing,” Tinordi will likely be defenseman number seven and unless Schenider beats out Lundkvist, he will likely be in Hartford’s top four. Split Sheshterkin and Huska.
Game 3:
Panarin - Zibanejad - Gauthier
Kreider - Chytil - Kakko
Blais - Korczak - Greco
Vierling - Rempe - Reuschoff
Jones - Trouba
Reunanen - Bitetto
Geertsen - Schneider
Georgiev - Wall
Panarin/Zibanejad/Gauthier is a line I’ve been itching to see forever. If Gallant opted to put his two top forwards on a line together, Gauthier could play a Chris Kreider type role except on the right side. Regardless, it’ll be interesting to see what Gallant does with Gauthier. Like many fans, I believe he deserved a better look and Quinn didn’t give him a good enough chance. Gallant will either prove fans right or David Quinn right. I’ve always liked the idea of a Kreider/Chytil/Kakko line but that’s only effective if all three are playing the way they’re supposed to all of the time. I don’t think there’s a chance we see that line at all as one, if not two of them will be in the top six but it’s not a bad idea to give it a look. I mentioned how Blais can be a utility guy therefore it’s important to give him a look at the left and right side. I don’t know that Korczak will get much of a look other than a game as it’s pretty clear more development is in his best interest. Greco is an AHL vet who has the chance to be a depth call up guy. I'd give him the chance in a preseason game or two but it’s likely he’ll be a leader down in Hartford.
Vierling/Rempe/Rueschhoff is another fun one, the average height of that line would be 6”5 and that’s with Vierling only being 6”0. Vierling also got banged up in development camp so it’s unclear if he’ll even get a game, but all three of these players likely won’t get that deep of a look and will continue to develop in the minors. I have Mason Geertsen on the third pairing in this line up, and wouldn't mind trying him at fourth line on the left side with Rempe and Rueschhoff.. Talk about a big, tough line. Nevertheless, him and Schneider would be interesting to see as they’ll likely be Hartford teammates this year. Trouba and Jones would be worth a look as well in case Miller has a tough start. Bitetto and Reunanen are also battling for that depth defense spot, worth seeing what they can do. Georgiev and Wall split the game.
Game 4:
Kreider - Zibanejad - Lafreniere
Goodrow - Strome - Cuylee
Hunt - McKegg - Richards
Brodzinski - Khoderanko - Elmer
Miller - Lundkvist
Hajek - Tinordi
Nemeth - Skinner
Kinkaid - Garand
Lastly, it’s worth exploring Lafreniere on the right side as well as Kreider, put them with Zibanejad and see what they could do. I’d be interested to see Cuylee on the right side as well, just to explore our options. In the interest of exploring options, trying McKegg, Richards, Hunt, Brodzinski at all different positions is worth checking in on as their chances at making the team aren’t high but if they impress, they have to be flexible. Khodorenko and Elmer are two guys I’d give a game to look at as well but chances are they’re Hartford depth at best. The defense pairings I have here are kind of just pairs of darts blindly thrown at the board, they’re all guys who are going to get looked at and why not try them out with different partners. Kinkaid and Garand split the game and then moving forward you probably assign Huska, Wall, Garand and Boyko to their respective minor teams.
Predicting the Opening Day Lineup
Without a single preseason game being played, if I were to guess the day one, opening night roster right now (featuring who I think the captain will be), this is what I’m thinking:
Lafreniere - Zibanejad - Kreider
Panarin - Strome - Kakko
Goodrow - Chytil - Kravtsov
Blais - Rooney - Reaves
Lindgren - Fox
Miller - Trouba (C)
Nemeth - Lundkvist
Extras: Gauthier, Hunt, Tinordi
Goalies:
Sheshterkin
Georgiev
Chris Feldman
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