With the regular season just over a week away, the Rangers are a mostly healthy team. Injuries to Ryan Lindgren and Jimmy Vesey have assured that the Rangers won't begin the 2024-25 campaign at full strength. However, one could argue that if there's any "good" time for an injury, it's during the preseason, as the two roster players have time to rest and the coaching staff has a unique opportunity to evaluate short term replacements. In a critical year where the lineup was already subject to change, at least two more players will have a chance at the NHL level. So that begs the question; who will those two players be?
Replacing Vesey
With 26 forwards still left on the training camp roster and just 12 making the starting lineup, spots are always competitive. With Vesey's absence being "a few weeks" according to the team, that gives 5-7 regular season games for a new player to step in and make an impact. There is no shortage of options, however there are a few players that will likely receive more consideration than others. The biggest wildcard to me is Brett Berard. The young forward is coming off a successful season in the AHL, but I feel he hasn't shined enough in preseason to earn a roster spot at the end of camp. A likely candidate is Adam Edstrom, the 6'8 forward being a factor in the Rangers rookie showcase against the Flyers, scoring 60% of the team's goals. Edstrom's size is a very rare attribute and could add a wrinkle to the Rangers offense at the beginning of the season. He also has some NHL experience, the 23 year old having 2 goals in 11 games for the Rangers in the 2023-24 season. I do think he is a likely candidate for the opening, as rumblings have come out from training camp about him being one of the frontrunners for the spot. Another name is Brennan Othmann, who is regarded as the Rangers' most NHL ready prospect. He also has a bit of experience at the top level, playing 3 games for the Rangers last season. But, like Berard, he's still just 21 years old and hasn't turned heads in the preseason. I see him on the outside looking in, and maybe that's not the worst thing for his development.
An Obvious Choice
Even though those options may look great, one stands out. Jonny Brodzinski. After scoring 19 points in 57 NHL games with the Rangers last season, Brodzinski came on the scene as another NHL caliber forward the Rangers can rely on. He was good enough to earn a 1 way deal and I think he will be a fourth line winger to start the season. He's proven he can be more than a 13th forward, and now he will get his chance. It's worth mentioning that Brodzinski's 82 game pace was 27 points as well. He's no pushover, as 25-30 points is a solid range for a fourth liner. It's an easy decision here; as much as I would like to see a young gun play some NHL games, Brodzinski has been too noticeable to not give him the opportunity.
A New 6th Defenseman
After Ryan Lindgren went down in a fight, the team has started to test guys in a role with Adam Fox as his defensive partner to open the year. This would give these players a top 3 superstar on their pairing so they can worry about their own game and their ability to hold down the fort as Ryan Lindgren makes a recovery. In a year where Zac Jones is already looking likely to be a new full time d-man for the Rangers, starting the year with two new defensemen is a likely scenario. The first candidate is dynamic defenseman Victor Mancini. His name has taken the organization by storm, Mancini has lit up the preseason on the stat sheet as well as being a solid defender in his own zone. At just 22, it looks unlikely he makes the team but this may be his chance to get some NHL experience as he fights for a role in the beginning of the new year. Connor Mackey is also someone that has come up. However, he has not had many reps with the first team in camp and has been consistently left out of the first team unlike Mancini and the third and final candidate, Chad Ruhwedel. Ruhwedel is a very realistic option, as the 23-24 trade deadline acquisition carved out the 7th D role for himself. He now looks to step up as he was part of the first team and on a pairing with Fox since the Lindgren injury. Look for Ruhwedel, now 34, to continue his style of defensive defenseman hockey and maybe even make a very strong pairing with offensive dynamo Adam Fox.
Final Remarks
It's likely we see a Ruhwedel and Fox pairing and it could be great, but the forwards remain ambiguous. We could see a 4th line centered by Carrick with and combination of Edstrom, Brodzinski, and even Rempe on the fourth line. Definitely watch the Rangers bottom 6 and especially bottom 3 throughout the early part of this season, as it's an interesting storyline for the defending division champions.
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