PROJECTING FORWARD LINES
The New York Rangers have a litany of young forwards competing for roster spots — Brett Berard (23), Noah Laba (22), Brennan Othmann (22), Gabe Perreault (20), Dylan Roobroeck (21), and Adam Sykora (21).
In addition to competing with each other, they are also battling a group of veterans. Taylor Raddysh (27) and Juuso Parssinen (24) are likely to make the roster but not guaranteed spots in the lineup. Jonny Brodzinski (32) is a Swiss-Army Knife who is unlikely to pass through waivers if he is sent to the minors. Conor Sheary (34), who won a pair of cups playing for Mike Sullivan, is on a tryout agreement.
The Rangers should be open to a kid forcing his way onto the roster with a dominant camp/pre-season. Otherwise, strategically, it makes more sense for the Rangers to preserve their depth and let the youngsters play big minutes for the Hartford Wolfpack.
Alexis Lafreniere-JT Miller-Mika Zibanejad
GM Chris Drury was asked to explain why the Rangers named Miller the 29th captain in their team’s history. “Just the way he prepares, he plays, how hard he competes”, Drury said. “He goes over the boards looking to get into a fight, and he drags people into it. That’s what we need, and we’re excited to have him as our captain.”
Lafreniere’s intensity seems to come and go. However, it’s clear that he plays his best hockey when he is physically engaged (as Sullivan probably recalls from the Rangers/Penguins classic round one playoff series in 2022).
Miller and Zibanejad lobbied to play with each other. Now I’m lobbying on Lafreniere’s behalf to get him on that line too.
Artemi Panarin-Vincent Trocheck-Taylor Raddysh
Panarin’s well-earned status as the “unofficial best free agent signing in Rangers’ history” makes it appear to me as if he is immune to criticism. However, as someone who once suggested he should be traded, and who recently suggested the Rangers don’t rush into extending him, I’m not afraid to speak my mind about #10.
My Real Take is Panarin’s propensity for turnovers and defensive lapses make it essential that he plays with a defensively responsible right wing like former Rangers’ Jesper Fast and Andrew Copp. Raddysh, who came up in the Tampa Bay Lightning system, and had 20 goals a couple of years ago for the Chicago Blackhawks, fits the bill.
Will Cuylle-Juuse Parssinen-Brett Berard
Cuylle, last year’s Steven McDonald Extra Effort Award winner, definitely deserves an opportunity for an expanded role. And Sullivan has already said, “I would envision him playing in the top six”.
However, Sullivan also said that while he was looking for a “reliable” third line, “it is important that they can produce offense, so we don’t have to rely on the same guys all the time to score goals”. Cuylle potted 20 last season primarily playing third line minutes.
On the other flank, I’m going with Berard over Sheary because he’s the one youngster who has already proven himself at both levels — 25 goals in the AHL two seasons ago, and 6 goals, 10 points in 35 NHL games last year while averaging just 10:43. Plus, Sullivan has noticed his non-stop ‘motor’.
Adam Edstrom-Sam Carrick-Matt Rempe
If Peter Laviolette was still the Rangers’ coach, this would be a lock. We’ll have to wait to see what Sullivan’s thinking, but this group has the potential to give the Rangers their version of an “identity” or “crash” line.
p.s. Anyone else nervous Rempe might hurt someone after announcing he added 12 pounds of muscle over the summer?
Jonny Brodzinski-Conor Sheary
Will Sheary sign if he’s not guaranteed to dress on opening night? My hope is that the answer is yes. It’s a long season and injuries are inevitable. Just as importantly, the presence of these two hard-working veterans will keep the pressure on the Berards, Parssinens, Edstroms, and Rempes to stay focused from night-to-night.
PROJECTING DEFENSIVE PAIRS
There are six established veterans in camp, and a group of young players led by Jackson Dorrington (21), Scott Morrow (22), and Matthew Robertson (24).
The wild-card is Braden Schneider. Does the right-handed shot play the left-side on the second pair, opening a spot on the third pair for Morrow? Once again, I’m strategically starting the year with the vets, and letting the kids marinate in Hartford.
Vladislav Gavrikov-Adam Fox
The Rangers first pair was established on July 1, when the Rangers signed Vladislav Gavrikov as a free agent. He’ll be paired with Adam Fox, who is said to have trained harder this summer than at any point in his young career. He’s highly motivated to make the Olympic team and re-establish himself as a Norris Trophy contender.
Carson Soucy-Will Borgen
Soucy was a major disappointment after the Rangers acquired him from the Vancouver Canucks at last year’s trade deadline. However, the physical 31-year-old defenseman has 365 NHL games under his belt including a stint as Borgen’s partner with the Seattle Kraken. He should get the first shot at nailing down a regular spot on the second pair.
Urho Vaakanainen-Braden Schneider
Schneider has been the Rangers’ third-pair right-shot defensemen in all four of his NHL seasons. I see him continuing that role this year, but with a twist. In close games when Sullivan starts to rely on his Top 4, or in special situations like defensive draws, I expect him to be bumped up to the second pair to play alongside Borgen.
Andrej Sustr
Sustr, like Sheary, is on a PTO. The difference is the 34-year-old Sustr hasn’t played in the NHL since 2021-22, when he was with the Anaheim Ducks. Despite this, he’s the safest pick as the seventh defenseman.
PROJECTING THE GOALIE ROTATION
To paraphrase the Capital One guy, “projecting the New York Rangers goalie rotation is as easy as picking Charles Barkley.”
Igor Shesterkin-Jonathan Quick
Igor is coming off his worst season with a career high 2.86 GAA and a career low .905 SV%. Of course, considering the Rangers’ disorganized and at times disinterested defensive play in 2024-25, it’s reasonable to expect a quick rebound. The NHL Network agrees, as it recently ranked him as the NHL’s fourth-best goaltender.
DOWN ON THE FARM
Based on following this veteran-laden strategy, the Wolfpack would have an exciting team for local fans and Rangers’ fans to follow.
Here’s my projected starting lineup:
Brennan Othmann-Noah Laba-Gabe Perreault
Jackson Dorrington-Scott Morrow
Dylan Garand
Those six players are legitimate prospects and would be just a phone call away from joining the Rangers on Broadway.