What’s next for Rangers after Jimmy Vesey injury
With New York Rangers forward Jimmy Vesey out for at least a few weeks with a lower-body injury, as coach Peter Laviolette announced Monday, there’s an opportunity for one of several players who have been fighting for a roster spot during training camp.
While players like Matt Rempe, Sam Carrick, and Jonny Brodzinski are the likeliest options, there are other players who now have a very real chance of staying with the big club to start the season, either on the fourth line or as the 13th forward.
“That’s what training camp is about, it’s an opportunity for guys to step up,” Laviolette said Monday. “I do think some guys have had good camps, and that’s the evaluation process. We’re still going on, we still have three games left, so those evaluations are still taking place.”
With three preseason games left (Monday and Tuesday against the New Jersey Devils; Friday at the New York Islanders) before the season opener against the Pittsburgh Penguins at PPG Paints Arena on Oct. 9, evaluating who’s the best fit to play on the fourth line becomes an important storyline to watch.
With that in mind, here are three players who might be able to crack the roster now that Vesey’s absence has opened another spot.
3 candidates to fill in for Jimmy Vesey on Rangers fourth line
Adam Edstrom
Edstrom is the consensus first choice to replace Vesey. From the start of rookie camp, Edstrom has looked like he came into this year ready to make some noise. He did just that during the two rookie games in Philadelphia by scoring two goals, and he’s continued his impressive play in the main camp, scoring two goals and adding an assist in his two preseason appearances.
The 6-foot-7 forward skated in 11 games with the Rangers last season, scoring two goals and averaging 8:24 of ice time. He and Rempe, who’s 6-foot-8, have had stints playing together throughout camp, and could make up a very large fourth line centered by an experienced pro like Carrick.
Brennan Othmann
While it may not be the role he envisioned, Othmann could end up cracking the roster by filling the fourth-line opening. The 16th player chosen in the 2021 NHL Draft has impressed during camp and is looking to make the jump to become a full-time Ranger, but he’s trying to do so on a team that has solid depth on either wing.
Othmann is probably better suited for a top-six role, but he may have to settle for fewer minutes if he wants to be a regular in the lineup. The other option is to have him start the season with the Hartford Wolf Pack, the Rangers affiliate in the American Hockey League, until an opportunity opens up that’s a better fit.
But don’t count Othmann out just yet. When asked if he could be a suitable fourth-line option, Laviolette “wouldn’t say that’s out of the question.” There will certainly be an evaluation period over the next several days to see if Othmann is in fact the best choice to fill that role.
Adam Erne
Erne is a less-likely option to fill the fourth-line vacancy created by Vesey’s absence. The 29-year-old is in camp on a PTO, meaning that he is not guaranteed a roster spot — or even a contract.
That being said, Erne has 379 games of NHL experience and could easily fit on the Rangers roster in the same capacity that Vesey does. He is a solid depth forward who can chip in offensively from time to time, though he will likely be used for his defense and penalty-killing skills.
While he may not be the No. 1 choice, Erne still has time in camp to impress. He could find himself on the opening night roster of his favorite childhood team now that another spot has opened
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