The initial Rangers training camp groups were certainly telling. Though the groups were eventually mixed for the team scrimmage, the Rangesr training camp groups were essentially broken into NHLers and AHLers, with a few bubble players in each group. Alberts Smits was a surprise to be in the NHL group, and Adam Sykora was a bit of a surprise in the AHL group. Joonas Korpisalo (NHL) and Dylan Garand (AHL) also drew some intrigue–and some criticism. As per usual, I have some thoughts.
1. First on the goalies, as that will likely be the biggest complaint. I read Garand in the AHL group not as he’s headed to the AHL, where he would have to clear waivers, but as a goalie facing NHL talent to get him up to speed fast. Korpisalo is used to NHL talent, so he doesn’t need it. Korpisalo was also the “backup” to Igor Shesterkin in the initial Rangers training camp groups. Garand was the starter.
I am still somewhat certain–and always happy to be wrong, though maybe not in this case–that Garand will be the backup because he won’t make it through waivers. Korpisalo will be in the AHL and the third string goalie, a significant improvement on Spencer Martin.
Rangers training camp groups were telling
2. As for the forward lines, the Rangers training camp groups were pretty straight forward. It was nice to see Mike Sullivan keep the Alexis Lafreniere-Mika Zibanejad-Gabe Perreault line together as the second line. My guess is that trio will get more offensive zone starts and be a bit “sheltered” to get the most out of all three. It’s critical the Rangers let Perreault develop his offense, something the Rangers desperately need. Lafreniere is coming off the best defensive season of his young career, and while that is nice, he also needs more consistent scoring punch to his game.
3. Naturally, the top line started with Pavel Dorofeyev and JT Miller. Oliver Bjorkstrand joined them on the left wing, which again shouldn’t have been much of a surprise. Bjorkstrand is a former 30 goal, 60 point player (rounding for ease of discussion) who is coming off a down year with Tampa. The question is less about ability and more about lineup balance and depth. WIll Cuylle and Eeli Tolvanen will certainly get looks with Dorofeyev and Miller at some point either during the preseason or in NHL games down the road.
4. That initial third line of Cuylle, Tolvanen, and Noah Laba (and eventually a rotation with Bjorkstrand) will hopefully bring out more offense from Laba. Laba’s offensive numbers were rather rough last year, but his defensive numbers were stellar. I wonder if Laba is more of a defensive minded 4C than a two way 3C, and it looks like the coaching staff is putting him in a position to succeed on offense. If not, the worst case scenario is he winds up as the 4C down the road.
5. Another borderline surprise from the initial Rangers training camp groups is the omission of Adam Sykora from the NHL group on the fourth line. Jaro Chmelar and Tye Kartye were with Joe Veleno on the fourth line with Matt Rempe and Taylor Raddysh as the spare forwards. This likely comes down to Sykora vs. Kartye, with Kartye having the inside track since Sykora doesn’t require waivers.
Sometimes, it’s as simple as that. Kartye would have to pass through waivers. Sykora can be sent directly to the AHL. This is likely how things will go to start the season. Sykora will be back, and is likely penciled in as the first call up due to injury.
Defense groups are as expected
6. The Rangers training camp groups didn’t have many surprises on the blue line. Adam Fox and Vlad Gavrikov were together. Sean Durzi and Marcus Pettersson were the new second pair. What was a tad surprising was Alberts Smits on the third pair with Braden Schneider. Matthew Robertson was paired with Scott Morrow as the likely front runners for the 7/8D spots. Urho Vaakanainen was with the AHL group, another surprise.
Smits will be given every opportunity to break camp with the Rangers. Playing with Braden Schneider gives him probably the best defenseman he will play with on the third pair, which is a positive. Though worth noting Schneider’s best defense partner was his extended stay with Gavrikov, though that was on the top pair.
7. Schneider is still the Rangers’ best trade chip to address the need to get younger at center. It doesn’t appear to be a rush. Based on the Rangers training camp groups, it appears the Rangers want to see what they have in Laba before making a decision on someone like Shane Wright. Or the pipe dream that is Adam Fantilli.
The rest of preseason
8. Mike Sullivan told Colin Stephenson yesterday that he’s going to keep these initial Rangers training camp groups together at least through the next day or two. A shortened preseason schedule means they don’t have much time to tinker, and this first cut at the lines is likely what we will see on opening night. Someone will need to truly force their way onto the roster, like Laba last season, for something to change.
Remember, the lineup that starts the season is never the lineup that finishes the season. Given the short preseason and 84 game schedule, it appears the first month or so of the season will be an “extended look” at the lineup. This is where Sully will get his chance to shine.
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