Just under ten months after bringing Juuso Parsinen on board and less than eight months after extending his contract for two years, the Rangers decided to place the 24-year-old Finnish forward on waivers this past Tuesday. If he goes unclaimed, he’ll be sent down to AHL Hartford.
When training camp began, Parsinen seemed to have a shot at becoming the third-line center, but he ultimately lost the position to rookie Noah Laba. His performance has been inconsistent since the trade from Colorado in March.
In fact, he’s been a healthy scratch for six out of the last eight games.
“I’d say it was a bit hit-or-miss,” Sullivan remarked on Parsinen’s gameplay. “We tried him out in the middle quite a bit early on. We were looking at options for that third-line center spot, and then we saw the game evolve during training camp. Laba just became the better fit. So, I shifted Parsinen to a wing position, which is really competitive in that bottom six.”
“For someone in that role, dependability is key, plus a lot of other smaller factors. He’s had some good games for us, but so have others, and that’s what led to this decision. It’s really about competition, and we’re trying to do what’s best for the team.”
So far this season, Parsinen has notched two goals and one assist in 14 games, averaging just under nine minutes of ice time per game.
In other news, JT Miller and Will Borgen both participated in Tuesday’s practice while wearing non-contact jerseys due to upper body injuries. Miller has missed the last two games, while Borgen hasn’t played in three. They’re expected to travel with the team for Wednesday’s game against Carolina, but both are considered day-to-day.
Goaltender Jonathan Quick, who has been dealing with a lower-body injury, was placed on injured reserve, paving the way for Dylan Garland to take on a backup role.
The Rangers have a packed schedule, with three games lined up in the next four days. Sullivan indicated that Igor Shesterkin may be starting all of them.
“I’m not sure yet,” Sullivan said when asked about his game plans. “We’re taking it one day at a time. Shesterkin has managed his workload well so far, but if he’s ready for more, I think he can handle it.”
Garland, a fourth-round pick in 2020, is yet to see NHL ice time. This season, the 23-year-old has a record of 3-6-2, along with a 2.96 GAA and a .897 save percentage for Hartford.
“I’m prepared for whatever the team needs,” Garland expressed. “This is a fantastic opportunity. That’s why I’m going to give it my all and work hard. I really hope I get the chance to play.”
