Rangers Call Up Cole Beaudoin to Fill Center Position

The Rangers have decided to bring Cole Beaudoin into the fold to fill their center vacancy.

After just two games in his professional career with Hartford, Beaudoin was called up Tuesday for the game against the Islanders at Madison Square Garden.

At just 20 years old, Beaudoin was part of the Vincent Trocheck trade with Utah and found himself skating on the fourth line with Jaroslav Chmelar and Oliver Bjorkstrand.

“I felt good. Obviously, just playing my game,” Beaudoin shared after the Rangers secured a 5-2 victory over the Islanders. “There’s excitement, a little bit of nerves. I’m just going out there and having fun, having a smile on my face and enjoying it. It was great.”

Before Beaudoin’s call-up, Joe Veleno was placed on injured reserve after suffering a lower-body injury during a game against the Mammoth.

During the first period of that game, Veleno stumbled awkwardly while battling Utah’s Clayton Keller along the boards.

Veleno had to be helped to the locker room, unable to put weight on his right leg.

Head coach Mike Sullivan could not provide a timeline for Veleno’s recovery, leaving it unclear whether he’ll be sidelined day-to-day or week-to-week.

In a corresponding move, the Rangers placed Matthew Robertson on waivers Monday to allow room for Beaudoin on the roster. Robertson successfully cleared waivers and was assigned back to Hartford.

Throughout the opening week, three Rangers players have made their way to injured reserve.

Veleno joins backup goalie Joonas Korpisalo and young winger Adam Sykora on the sidelines due to similar lower-body injuries. The exact timing of Korpisalo’s injury is uncertain, but he was hurt before he could play a single game.

Sykora’s injury occurred during preseason, stemming from a hard hit by Devils prospect Mikael Diotte that caused him to bend his right knee awkwardly against the boards. He is now projected to be out for four to five months.

Interestingly, since Sykora is on a two-way contract and only played 11 games with the Rangers last season, his cap hit has been prorated for the current year based on his previous roster days, which amounts to $110,208, according to Puck Pedia.

At the time of his call-up, Beaudoin was leading the Wolf Pack with five points, consisting of one goal and four assists, over two games. He had been on the second line with Anton Blidh and Taylor Raddysh.

Notably, the Rangers have not allowed a first-period goal in their last five games, marking their longest such streak to start a season since 1939.

After a day off on Wednesday, the Rangers will return to practice on Thursday at the MSG Training Center.