The Rangers waived Tyler Pitlick back to the minors this week, acquiring another veteran forward, with rookie winger Adam Edstrom getting his first crack at replacing him in the lineup.
The 6-foot-7 Swede scored a goal in his NHL debut with the Blueshirts on Dec. 15 and was subsequently sent back to AHL Hartford, where Edstrom was in the minors with an undisclosed upper-body injury. He was out of action for nearly two months. Until February 10th.
“It’s always tough when you get hurt, right? No matter what point it is, I got some really good help in Hartford and I’m excited to be back,” Edstrom said after Wednesday’s practice. Ta. “It’s great to be back here and get some shots again. It’s something I’ve been working on my whole life.
“I feel like the nerves are pretty much gone at this point. I just want to continue to grow in the game and continue to adapt to hockey at the NHL level. [going] To make every day better.
Edstrom, 23, was recalled from the minors over the weekend and appeared on the ice for more than nine minutes in Monday’s 2-0 win over Calgary.
“I think he had a chance to come here.” [sooner]But that’s just part of the business,” Peter Laviolette said of Edstrom’s recent injury. “The season he had, the training camp he had, the way he came in, the way he impressed us here. I feel it’s worth it.
“We’re excited to have him active. He’s been out for a while, so I think the more he practices, the more he plays, the faster he’ll get to the speed he’s here.”
Edstrom, a 2019 sixth-round pick of the Rangers, skated primarily on the fourth line Monday alongside veterans Jimmy Vesey and Barclay Goodrow.
“He’s been playing well since he’s been here. He’s a big body and can skate really well. And I think when he has the puck, he uses his size to his advantage. ” Vesey said. “So he’s going to get more confident as he plays more games. I think he was battling injuries at some point this year. So the more games he plays, the more confident he gets. I think I can hold on and prove my ability.”
Pitlick, who was making $787,500 this season, applied for waivers and was assigned to Hartford on Wednesday. Laviolette called the move “just a hockey decision.” The Rangers waived veteran center Nick Bonino earlier this month, but released him after he refused to transfer to Hartford. …Chris Kreider was excused from practice for personal reasons.
