Rangers Roundup: Lineup needs work, Kravtsov and Chytil updates
The Rangers will be back at it tomorrow against the Vancouver Canucks who are taking on the NJ Devils today. Questions about tomorrow’s lineup will swirl all day and up until game time for sure.
Chytil Time?
Filip Chytil continues to play well down in Hartford as the team’s #1 center, registering an assist on the Pack’s lone goal in a 1-0 win. The team plays again tonight at 7PM in Binghamton. What Rangers fans should be keeping an eye out on is if he will be a scratch tonight. If so, that could signal a call up in time for tomorrow’s game against the Canucks. If not, then we will wait until Monday to see if they will get him here for Tuesday’s contest at MSG versus the Coyotes.
Kravtsov Rumors Will Continue
The Rangers have told reporters that nothing has changed with Vitali Kravtsov. However on his Instagram he posted a photo with a sad Memoji, missing his old KHL team. Here’s the bottom line and it is not speculation by me like some beat reporters are claiming. Kravtsov and his agent are considering the possibility and apparently Traktor who holds his rights have discussed possible trades with other KHL teams.
Here is what you need to be aware of, the clause will not be triggered until the 1st week of November if he decides to at all. I am not 100% as to why that is, could be a rule with transactions in the KHL. So if you see a trade for his rights leading up to or during that week, it may be a signal that he has decided to go back to the KHL then return later during the regular season. And there is nothing wrong with him going there to play either.
Tony D Benched
David Quinn was really unhappy with his defense last night, in particular Tony DeAngelo who didn’t see another shift from the early 2nd period on. Brendan Smith replaced him on defense and the Rangers were overmatched for the entire game anyway.
I said on social media and I will repeat it again. I don’t know what lesson he could teach him aside from singling him out while other veterans were making terrible mistakes all night as well. Now we have to see if Smith will take his place tomorrow and Tony will be in the press box. That would mean McKegg back in and Haley still taking up a spot on the 4th line.
David Quinn needs to make some serious corrections to this lineup. Kaapo Kakko needs help and isn’t getting it with the players he has on the 2nd line. Maybe Lias Andersson who has been very noticeable to almost everyone not named David Quinn should get a chance. Or the coach can reunite the KZB unit and let Panarin open up ice for the Rangers highest draft pick in their history.
Of course, one call to Hartford could change the whole dynamic of this lineup in an instant. Let’s see what happens.
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