Rangers getting exciting early returns from ‘effective’ bottom-6 forwards
Entering the 2025-26 season, the New York Rangers’ bottom-six forward group was thought to be one of the team’s weaker links. Through three games, it’s been anything but.
That was evident Saturday, when the Rangers defeated the Pittsburgh Penguins 6-1 in head coach Mike Sullivan’s return to PPG Paints Arena. While star defenseman Adam Fox headlined the night with a two-goal, three-point performance, the depth forwards had their fingerprints all over the feel-good win.
Fourth-line center Sam Carrick helped get the party started in the first period, breaking out on a 2-on-1 short-handed rush to set up Mika Zibanejad for a 1-0 lead. The fourth line contributed to New York’s second goal as well, this time at even strength, when winger Adam Edstrom set up Fox for a his first goal of the night, and a 2-1 lead, at 6:06 of the second period.
Three minutes later, third-line center Noah Laba recorded his first NHL point, notching a secondary assist on Will Cuylle’s power-play goal, when the second unit converted to give the Rangers a 3-1 advantage.
Ahead 4-1 entering the final period, it was only fitting that the bottom six put the finishing touches on a complete team effort. Edstrom picked up his second assist at 5:40 of the third period, cleaning up a scramble in front and firing a shot that deflected off a prone Matt Rempe for the latter’s first goal of the season. Then Laba capped the night off in brilliant fashion, turning on the jets after a takeaway to set up Taylor Raddysh’s first goal with the Rangers with a slick backhand feed.
All told, five of New York’s six goals featured scoring contributions from the bottom six, with all six skaters recording a point in the victory — a remarkable showing from a group that wasn’t expected to deliver much in the way of offense.
Rangers ‘gotta find a way to get this group on the ice more’
The Rangers fourth line of Edstrom, Carrick, and Rempe was arguably their most effective line offensively, on the ice for two goals at even strength and generating a team-best five high-danger chances, per Natural Stat Trick. Edstrom led all skaters with 1.37 expected-goals-for in the first multi-point game of his young career.
“They gotta find a way to get this group on the ice more,” MSG analyst Steve Valiquette advocated after the game. “They are just that effective.”
The analytics back it up. New York’s fourth line has an absurd 71.50 expected-goals-for-percentage (Natural Stat Trick), trailing only the new-look top line of Artemi Panarin, Alexis Lafreniere, and Zibanejad for the team lead. It’s production you expect out of the Rangers star-laden top six. To get it from Rempe, Edstrom, and Carrick — even if only through three games — is a different story entirely.
The third line hasn’t been quite as dominant, but it’s reassuring to see Laba drive play despite some personnel changes. Top-six center Vincent Trocheck is week to week for the Rangers with an upper-body injury, and missed his first game Saturday. So, veteran winger Conor Sheary slid into the top six and Juuso Parssinen made his 2025-26 debut, joining Laba and Raddysh on the third line.
Laba, in particular, stood out in the 6-1 win, drawing praise from MSG color commentator Dave Maloney for finishing a check on Pittsburgh’s Blake Lizotte late in the second period. His speed and playmaking talents were on display in the third, helping put a bow on a well-rounded effort.
“He’s not going anywhere because he’s noticeable on every shift,” Valiquette lauded postgame.
The 22-year-old earned a spot in the lineup after a strong preseason, when he led the Rangers with six points. Offensive contributions are a welcome bonus, but it’s Laba’s focus and intensity on the defensive end that will keep him in the lineup consistently. He’s also won 71.4 percent of his face-offs through three games.
Rangers must rely on bottom six after Vincent Trocheck injury
Trocheck’s injury is a mighty blow, and with depth already a question mark, the Rangers must rely on some unexpected contributions until their invaluable center returns. That’s especially so because Panarin and J.T. Miller each missed significant time during the preseason due to injury. Though Miller looks much sharper after a disjointed season opener, it’s reasonable to think that the top two lines might not be operating at full tilt just yet.
Rempe, Carrick, and Edstrom exceeded expectations so far and could command more ice time moving forward. At the level they’re playing, it would certainly be deserved.
There’s also room for some fluidity in the top six. Despite starting the season with Zibanejad on the wing next to Miller, Sullivan opted to slide the 32-year-old back over to center in Trocheck’s absence, instead promoting Sheary to second-line wing.
“Because I think we need balance … and we need to give some of our other offensive people a center-iceman that can think the game at their level and give them an opportunity to set them up for success,” Sullivan explained.
Zibanejad is off to an aggressive start and turned in another standout performance Saturday, centering Panarin and Lafreniere to resounding results. But should Sullivan wish to get him back on the wing, he could explore a promotion of Laba to the top six — an idea that Valiquette floated during the MSG Postgame Show.
Though Parssinen didn’t dazzle when compared to his bottom-six counterparts, he played a productive game nonetheless in his 2025-26 debut. His ability to play capably down the middle gives Sullivan the roster flexibility to explore such a move. Sheary hasn’t been an issue, but Laba’s explosiveness could help mitigate the impact of losing an all-encompassing talent like Trocheck.
Jonny Brodzinski, a healthy scratch the first three games, could also slot in at center or left wing on the third line.
On the flip side, thrusting Laba on to a new line with intensified responsibilities may not be the best path forward for a young player who’s played just 14 pro games across the AHL and NHL.
It’s also worth noting that — with all due respect to the Penguins and Buffalo Sabres — stiffer competition awaits. The Rangers head home Sunday to face last year’s Metropolitan Division champions, the Washington Capitals, before hosting an Edmonton Oilers team Tuesday that’s eyeing a third consecutive trip to the Stanley Cup Final.
This bottom six will be put to the test. It’ll be a big lift if they can continue to rise to the occasion.
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