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Rangers' prospects meet their Flyers' counterparts as hockey is back |
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After what has seemed to be an interminable break, we have hockey, or at least a facsimile thereof, tonight. The Rangers prospects take on their Flyer counterparts tonight and tomorrow. We get a look at some of the possible future Blueshirts in game action plus see Matvei Michkov in action for the first time.
Good info on how to watch the game. Of course, as we know, our team is too shortsighted or stuck in the 80s to stream the game on MSG or any other medium. So the Philly stream will have to do.
Vince had a great summary of camp to date, highlighting a few key players.
Based on what Mercogliano wrote, here are the projected lines. Next to each grouping is my thoughts.
Brett Berard-Ryder Korczak-Brennan Othmann:
- Berard roomed and worked out with childhood friend, the Kraken's Matty Beniers. He added five pounds of muscle and has been working out in New York with several of the Rangers the last month. In one of those practices, he took a puck to the jaw, resulting in him having to wear a full face mask. I keep thinking he or Adam Sykora will end up on the roster at some time playing an agitator role on the bottom-six.
- Othmann, normally a left winger, is skating at right wing. He received a cup of coffee last season and is vying for a full time role. He also put on muscle, bulking up to 192 pounds, in an attempt to be stronger on the boards.
Bryce McConnell-Barker and Adam Sỳkora are poised to anchor the second line, where Maxim Barbashev and Kalle Väisänen have been rotating at RW.
- BMB, a third round pick in 2022, turned pro this past year. He likely will center the third line in Hartford but could move up to 2C at some point.
- Sykora is one of my favorite prospects. He plays bigger than his size, and will need to continue to do so to make it at the next level.
- Keep an eye on Väisänen as a possible scoring win.
The third line has featured a towering combo of the 6-foot-7 Adam Edström, 6-foot-7 Dylan Roobroeck and 6-foot-4 Jaroslav Chmelař.
- the towers' line could see two and maybe all three end up in New York at some time. Edström played in 11 games last season but is behind Matt Rempe on the pecking order. As Mercogliano noted, Size and physicality are traits the Rangers prioritize for their bottom six, with Edström bringing ample supplies of both. He's quite mobile for his size, as well, and is considered advanced defensively compared to Rempe, according to some scouts. Rempe though has become a fan and team favorite, giving him an edge.
- Roobroeck displayed more offense than expected last year, opening some eyes. He is a better skater than first thought and will be given a chance to make the team down the road.
On Rempe, Mergogliano noted the impact of Rempe not being at the camp "The fact that Rempe got a pass on rookie camp speaks volumes about how he's viewed by Rangers' brass. He played only six more regular-season games than Edström, yet he's been promoted to skate in separate sessions with the NHL guys. It sure looks like the 6-foot-8 bruiser has a leg up on a fourth-line role, where he'd form a probable trio with newly signed center Sam Carrick and veteran Jimmy Vesey"
On defense, Victor Mancini is the one to watch. He has moved way up the team's prospect list and is likely next in line if a blueliner is needed. Matthew Robertson, a second rounder in 2019, has yet to make it to the level expected. He spent the offseason working on the mental part of the game, hoping that if he can control that aspect, the end result will be more success on the ice.
Dylan Garand will probably be between the pipes for part of the game. He is well aware that barring injury to Igor Shesterkin or Jonathan Quick, he will be spending all of the 2024-25 season in Hartford. The 2020 fourth rounder will work on being more consistent during the season, though he has raised his game in the postseason (sound familiar). A solid campaign could result in Garand backing up Igor next season.
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