Rangers rookies must embrace challenge: ‘Easier to get here … harder to stay’
It wasn’t meant to put a damper on some feel-good vibes down the stretch of the season, or even as a warning. Perhaps consider it some friendly advice from Jonny Brodzinski to several Rangers rookies who made a solid first impression when called up from the minor leagues after the NHL Trade Deadline.
“It’s easier to get here. It’s harder to stay,” Brodzinski explained at breakup day last week, when discussing the young kids and their positive contributions. “I think that’s why these younger guys really need to find their role and find their niche inside of the team that they can be successful at.”
Forwards Jaroslav Chmelar and Adam Sykora, defenseman Drew Fortescue, and goalie Dylan Garand each made his NHL debut this season, and had a fair amount of success in the final weeks of the season.
Chmelar played 26 games with the Rangers over several different recalls from Hartford of the American Hockey League. In his final call-up, Chmelar played every game from March 5 on, scoring four goals and totaling six points, largely on the fourth line. His good buddy Sykora joined Chmelar in late March, scored a goal in his second NHL game, and finished with four points (three goals, one assist) in 11 games.
Fortescue arrived on Broadway after signing his entry-level contract once his junior season at Boston College ended. The 20-year-old from Pearl River, New York, averaged 14:51 TOI over nine games, was plus-4, and had two assists. Garand, a fourth-year pro, finally saw his first NHL action, starting three games and excelling with a 2-0-1 record, 1.61 goals-against average, and .948 save percentage.
Each of those players used the word “hungry” when describing his desire to make the Rangers out of training camp in September. Heeding Brodzinski’s words, and viewing his career path as an example, is pretty beneficial for each of those youngsters, the oldest of whom is just 23 (Garand).
Jonny Brodzinski excited for Rangers rookies ‘shining at this level’
Brodzinski was a fifth-round pick (No. 148 overall) by the Los Angeles Kings in the 2013 NHL Draft. He made his NHL debut on March 25, 2017 and had two two assists in six games to close that season out. The following season, he played 35 games for the Kings. But his journey was far from linear.
Over the next five seasons with the Kings, San Jose Sharks, and Rangers, Brodzinski spent far more time playing in the minors than in the NHL. Skilled and hard-working, with a reputation as a great teammate, Brodzinski simply couldn’t earn a full-time spot in the NHL until 2023-24 with the Rangers. The jack-of-all-trades 13th forward played at least 51 games each of the past three seasons, embracing his role, and earning the trust to play top-six minutes as well as gritty fourth-line duty.
So, let that be a lesson to these four Rangers rookies, as well as those who project full-time NHL roles for each as early as next season. They’re off to good starts. But there are plenty of challenges ahead.
Matt Rempe can tell you chapter and verse about being the flavor of the month, only to have your season — and perhaps career — derailed by injury. Rempe goes to camp next fall trying to fend off Chmelar and Sykora for a spot on the fourth line. Stuff always happens in sports, and in this League. And it’s not always to your benefit.
Chmelar saying that he’s going to work his butt off this summer is a great follow-up to what he accomplished on Broadway the past couple months. But do you think Brodzinski didn’t work his tail off all those years?
Nothing can be taken for granted, especially based on such a small sample size at the NHL level. with these rookies.
However, Brodzinski, for one, is a big fan of the kids and what they accomplished so far. Even if their success could cost him his roster spot in New York, since he is an unrestricted free agent this summer.
“It’s amazing,” the 32-year-old forward said. “Especially since my very first year here (in the Rangers organization in 2020-21), getting down to Hartford, kind of grinding through that, and the next year they announced me as captain, for the next two years getting to play with these younger guys, it’s great to see them now shining at this level.
“That’s the best part about hockey.”
“I think just being a good teammate, helping these young guys through the difficulties of being a professional and an NHLer at this level
