As Tuesday night draws near, the final decisions about the Rangers’ roster, which have been in flux these past weeks and months, seem to be solidifying.
JT Miller, who has been nursing a lower body injury, returned to practice on Friday, albeit in a red, non-contact jersey.
Meanwhile, Artemi Panarin was absent from practice due to an upper body injury but did manage to skate on his own.
The question now is who will claim that final roster spot, which could reflect a blend of youthful surprise, the veterans’ need for some level of stability, or perhaps signify the start of a new chapter under coach Mike Sullivan.
On Friday, the competition intensified when the Rangers assigned 22-year-old defenseman Scott Moreau and 20-year-old forward Gabe Perot to AHL Hartford.
For the time being, players like Noaraba, Brett Berard, Connor Cearly (on a PTO), and Johnny Brozinski have pushed through another day, vying for those last couple of spots—this hinges on whether Sullivan and general manager Chris Drury decide to keep 13 or 14 forwards.
Saturday’s preseason finale was essentially a last audition before the long 82-game season kicks off just three nights later.
“You can’t always control what coaches or management decide,” Sullivan commented on the final roster shuffle, adding, “but you can influence their choices by showing up ready to play each day. Being a good professional and setting yourself up for success is what you can do.”
The Rangers’ moves suggest they aim to give young skaters more consistent ice time in Hartford.
Perot, a notable prospect who recently tasted life with the Rangers, made quite an impression after transitioning directly from college to play in five NHL games last year.
Moreau, picked up through the K’Andre Miller trade, is only 22 and had shown promise of breaking into the Rangers’ lineup.
Still, he hasn’t been assured a spot just yet, as avoiding complications for now seems prudent.
“We believe these guys are NHL players,” Sullivan mentioned.
“We’re genuinely excited about them. Their training camp performance was impressive and certainly made an impact.”
Yet, the Rangers still face a tricky decision before their opener.
The 22-year-old Laba demonstrated potential, racking up five points in the preseason and competing for the center position against Juuso Parssinen.
As I mentioned to Molly Walker last month, Cearly, who came into camp as somewhat of an underdog, has now found his way into the second line in place of Panarin.
“I see myself as versatile,” Parssinen said regarding the center competition and his ability to play on the wings. “…I think it will certainly help, but you don’t want to be bouncing around too much and lose your spot, even if you’re adaptable.”
Young players competing for the last roster spots remain keenly aware that every opportunity for ice time counts, especially with established players like Brozinski, who carries extensive experience in both regular and playoff games, in contention.
The contest may ultimately come down to Berard, with his limited experience, and others like Mules, who have yet to see any game time.
But one way or another, Boston’s final audition is just around the corner on Saturday night.
