Garand was badly missed by the Wolf Pack in the loss Thursday. Hershey blitzed Olaf Lindblom, New York’s second-round pick in the 2018 NHL Draft, scoring five goals on 28 shots before the 23-year-old was replaced by Talyn Boyko at 11:01 of the third period.

Lindblom was making his Calder Cup Playoffs debut. He only appeared in six AHL games this season, though Lindblom performed well with a 2.37 goals-against average and .916 save percentage.

He played 57 ECHL games the past two seasons.

Veteran Jake Leschyshyn scored Hartford’s only goal in the Game 1 loss, his fourth of the postseason.

Related: Rangers vs. Panthers: schedule, results, TV info for Eastern Conference Final

Dylan Garand expected to start Game 2 when Wolf Pack look to bounce back from loss

Garand has been the backbone of Hartford’s postseason run. He started the first seven playoff games and is 5-2 with a 2.32 GAA and .931 save percentage. He’s third among all goalies in save percentage and seventh in goals-against average.

The 21-year-old, a fourth-round pick by the Rangers in 2020, has made season-high 38 saves twice in these playoffs and has 30 or more saves in six of seven games played. He’s also a perfect 3-0 in overtime games during the postseason.

Hartford is seeking a split of the first two games in Hershey, hoping to be even with a chance to wrap up the best-of-5 series back home next week. Hershey swept Hartford 3-0 in the Atlantic Division Final last season.

New York Rangers could play in Newark Hub

There is a rising concern that some teams like those based in California will not be able to even conduct training camp in their home cities. “We have a couple of clubs that can’t hold training camp or conduct games even without fans in their current buildings and facilities, and we’re going to have to move them somewhere else to play,” Bettman explained.

“If enough teams can’t play, again, without fans, in their own facilities, then we may have to move more and more towards a hub,” the commissioner continued. As to where those hubs will be; Vegas, Columbus, Newark, Toronto and Edmonton are being discussed per Elliotte Friedman.

Swedish Team cleared of match-fixing allegation

Recently we reported that Blueshirts prospect Olof Lindbom was unwittingly involved in a game that was being investigated for match-fixing. His team Mora won the game 8-4 and their opponent Bjorkloven was under suspicion of rigging the match.

Today we learn that after an investigation by the Swedish Ice Hockey Association, they have been cleared. The only thing Bjorkloven can be charged with is playing a really crappy hockey game.

Björklöven cleared of suspicion: Björklöven Ice Hockey Club has been cleared of all suspicion of match-fixing by The Swedish Ice Hockey Association in connection with a game played against Mora on Monday. The association has made public its findings… https://t.co/18LFmSsXWo pic.twitter.com/IKmGufCY5M

— Björklöven (@Bjorkloven) December 17, 2020

Opening Night Triple Header

The NHL is reportedly looking to kick off the much anticipated 2021 season with a bang. According to Frank Seravalli, the league may do a triple header for opening night.

On tap first would be the Tampa Bay Lightning against the Chicago Blackhawks to witness the 2019-2020 Stanley Cup Banner raising. That would be soon followed by the New York Rangers battling the Boston Bruins in the East.

Finally, the West contest would likely be the Colorado Avalanche against the St. Louis Blues. This is all subject to change as is the targeted January 13th start date.

The Allegation

Bjorkloven were up 3-0 in the contest when they gave up 7 goals. According to Sportsnet’s Chris Johnston, so much money was placed on Mora that “the odds changed in unusual ways” to the point that the game was removed from betting sites.

The allegation is that several players on Bjorkloven “deliberately acted” in manner that directly benefited Mora. The CEO of the team released a statement on the club’s official website calling it “completely unacceptable”.

“I hope that this is sorted out properly and that we turn over all the stones that can be turned over. Only the suspicion is serious enough, but if it turns out to be true, it is of course completely unacceptable and something that must never occur in our association. These players are trained in what applies in Björklöven and this is so far from the culture we stand for,” says Anders Blomberg, who after the match gathered the whole team and the coaching staff to talk through both the effort and the suspicions.

Anders Blomberg

He continued to express disappointment, and vowed to the fans the team will improve after the loss.

New York Rangers prospect Olof Lindbom played in goal for Mora

The Rangers stunned fans at the 2018 draft by selecting Olof Lindbom in the second round. His unwitting role was being the winning goaltender in a match where he stopped 25 of 29 shots.

Unfortunately, after being drafted he suffered an ankle injury that required surgery which set him back. He told us in an exclusive interview back in June that the Rangers played a role in his rehab.

“I have great people that help me, including a physician, physiotherapist and mental coach. Injuries can have a mental impact on a player and that’s often forgotten. Experiencing these injuries, and getting the help that I was offered, will help me throughout my career. You learn how to deal with this“

Olof Lindbom

It is never fun for anyone to even be associated with any scandal. Sadly, Lindbom was the goalie for the winning side but fortunately he wasn’t playing for Bjorkloven.

Igor Shesterkin On Ice at MSG Training Facility

The Rangers released a small clip today showing Igor Shesterkin on ice at the training facility in Tarrytown, NY.

Rangers Prospect Olof Lindbom inks new deal in Sweden

In a recent interview with us, Lindbom told us his agent was exploring opportunities in both Sweden and Finland.

Lindbom doesn’t have a preference per se, but his agent Claes Elefalk has been in talks with teams from the Finnish Liiga. “My agent is doing a great job talking to a lot of different teams. Not only Liiga teams but, SHL teams and Allsvenskan teams as well. I’m sure we will find a good fit”, the goalie adds. There is no shortage in options for the young goalie, which is a good sign.

Olof Lindbom to Forever Blueshirts

Nick Ebert UFA defenseman signs with SHL

Forever Blueshirts continues its prospect series with the latest insightful interview that gave us more than we expected.

Injury-riddled season and missing the WJC

Last year Lindbom signed his first professional contract when he joined Mora in the 2nd tier of Swedish hockey, Allsvenskan. Mora, relegated that summer, picked up the young goalie from Djurgården in Stockholm where he played in the junior league SuperElit (u20).

“Everyone is way smarter on the ice, the pace is higher and players are much stronger. It is a big adjustment not going to school and just play hockey. You really notice a difference in how players approach games“, talking about the switch from junior hockey to professional hockey. Lindbom looks back without regrets. He spoke to several teams last year, and Mora was a good fit. The injuries he suffered didn’t change that decision for him.

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“We had a solid start to the season and I played some good games. After a few weeks, I hurt my ankle and opted to get surgery. The coaching change affected the season with Mora and when I came back I had to catch up with the team. It was tough“, Lindbom said about last season. He would finish the season with 16 games and a .893 save percentage. 22-year old Isak Wallin played 30 games and had a .900 save percentage. Mora’s defense struggled a lot and it’s safe to say it wasn’t all on the goalies.

Unfortunately for Lindbom, he missed out on the World Juniors tournament in the Czech Republic. “It hurt when I was no longer part of the team. I know most of that team, played with them for years. I missed out on a great experience”, Lindbom continued. He barely watched any games at the WJC and focused more on club hockey while still recovering after his ankle surgery.

Rangers Support

What stands out when talking to Lindbom about his time in the gym is how invested the Rangers were in his recovery. They offered all the help he needed during his rehab and were in contact with Mora regularly to make sure Lindbom had everything necessary to get better. “I have great people that help me, including a physician, physiotherapist and mental coach. Injuries can have a mental impact on a player and that’s often forgotten. Experiencing these injuries, and getting the help that I was offered, will help me throughout my career. You learn how to deal with this“, Lindbom concluded.

Crossing the Gulf of Bothnia? It’s a possibility

Lindbom spent a few weeks with SHL powerhouse Färjestad near the end of last season. “Färjestad was one of the favorites to win SHL last year and they thought I played good with Mora so they called me and wanted me to be a part of their playoff run”. It was a situation I personally have not seen happen before, but Lindbom was approached by them and he was sent there on loan in preparation for the SHL playoffs. Due to the COVID-19 outbreak, the season was cancelled and Lindbom did not suit up for the team from “Ferry Town”. It was still a valuable experience for Lindbom to be part of an SHL team for a few weeks, and get some experience practicing with them.

Fast forward to June 2020, and Lindbom has fully recovered. He’s healthy and ready to go. He doesn’t know yet where he will go but there is some interest from Finland. Lindbom doesn’t have a preference per se, but his agent Claes Elefalk has been in talks with teams from the Finnish Liiga. “My agent is doing a great job talking to a lot of different teams. Not only Liiga teams but, SHL teams and Allsvenskan teams as well. I’m sure we will find a good fit”, the goalie adds. There is no shortage in options for the young goalie, which is a good sign.

Earlier in the year he was a bit worried due to the lack of options. A lot will depend on what those interested teams do with their current goalies. It’s tough to speculate, but there are some teams in Liiga who can use a goalie like Kärpät where Justus Annunen was in net who signed his entry level contract. He could go back on loan using his European Assignment Clause, but if he opts to stay in North America, Olof Lindbom could be his replacement. Time will tell.

Staying in shape during the pandemic

Lindbom is currently back in Stockholm. He stays in touch with some of the other Swedish Rangers prospects, but none of them live close. At the moment, Lindbom is working out with strength coach Daniel Hedin in addition to 3 sessions a week with his goalie coach Peter Iversen. He is also on the ice with some players who spent time in the NHL this past season.

“I’m practicing with the NHL guys living in Stockholm. Kevin Stenlund, Alexander Wennberg and Lukas Vejdemo to name a few. It’s nice to have players to practice with and stay in shape while preparing for a move and the new season”. Lindbom is surrounded by players who bring out the best in him and if he can stay healthy, he may finally be able to show us what the Rangers saw in him back in 2018 when he was selected in the 2nd round.

Author’s Note: As always, I want to thank the player, Olof Lindbom in this case, for sitting down with me and telling me his story and giving me the opportunity to share it with our readers.

Henrik Lundqvist is going to face a really difficult decision this season. What hat to wear on the bench tonight? Nope. When he should finally deal with the gray in his beard? Nope.

No, Hank is going to face possibly the ultimate decision in sports: team or self. With Igor Shesterkin getting recalled from Hartford, Lundqvist will have to truly consider how the future of his career will play out (or not play out).

The Veteran

In an interview with Rangers beat writer Vince Mercogliano, Lundqvist noted that he wouldn’t be super comfortable taking on a mentor role to Shesterkin. Despite the young netminder noting that he idolized Hank growing up, the aging veteran goalie is more focused on his own game at this point in time.

It is very obvious from this response that Lundqvist is well aware of what is transpiring. As Forever Blueshirts editor Zak Chiger, noted, Lundqvist sees the writing on the wall. The goalie room is now very crowded for the Rangers and they may roll with three goalies for quite a bit of time, but that remains to be seen.

However, it doesn’t take a genius to realize that the organization would obviously love to create a goaltender tandem of Shesterkin and Georgiev as the rebuild continues its sprint toward the finish line and into the new era. And based on the early returns, that duo could be a heck of a one-two punch.

Unfortunately, with Lundqvist still under contract for the rest of this season and next, there simply isn’t room. There is no doubt that Shesterkin will be with the club next season, barring any major slip in play.

Georgiev Trade?

The rumors have been swirling for months regarding if/when a Georgiev trade may occur. This is still the most likely option going forward, however, this is where Hank has to think thoroughly.

He has noted that he wants to retire a Ranger, so I do not see him requesting a trade, nor do I see the Rangers shopping the future Hall-of-Famer, who will have his number hanging from the rafters of Madison Square Garden as soon as he retires.

So does he do what is best for the team he loves so dearly, who he has given his heart and soul to for a decade and a half? Or does he focus on his personal career and his play? This is the question.

Prior to the season, I did not think there would be a real possibility that Lundqvist would retire. However, these sentiments have changed after recent events. He knows what is happening within the organization and he sees the uber-talented young netminders beside him.

If he were to hang up the skates after this season, thus ending a truly magnificent career, he would be helping the Rangers out tremendously. The team would be able to extend Georgiev – potentially as it’s 1B goalie – with Shesterkin as 1A. Again, what a combo this would be.

But if Lundqvist decides he wants to finish what he started and play out the remainder of his contract, the Blueshirts would have to trade Georgiev at the deadline. Keeping all three simply isn’t an option because they would run the risk of Shesterkin activating his European Assignment Clause to head back oversees.

If Georgiev is traded, Lundqvist would split time with Shesterkin for a season, with the workload dependent on who is playing well. Hank would likely then retire and the Rangers would have to either sign a free agent backup goalie, or see what they have in prospects Adam Huska, Tyler Wall, or Olof Lindbom. This option is a bit more dangerous, as we already know how good Georgiev has been for the Rangers and under Benoit Allaire.

Time Sensitivity

What makes this more complicated is that Lundqvist would need to make his decision to retire or not retire soon, like before the trade deadline. If the Rangers trade Georgiev and then Lundqvist decides to retire, that would be a disaster. That is the worst-case scenario. I understand it is a ridiculously difficult decision, but again, it is easy to see that ideally the Rangers would love to keep Georgiev. If this scenario were to happen it would really sting the Rangers a bit. But the risk of this happening is not worth forgoing an opportunity to trade Georgiev.

So that’s where we are. A crowded goalie room and an even more crowded cloud of uncertainty. All we know right now is that Igor is here and the rebuild has taken its next step.

It is not the end of the world if the Rangers trade Georgiev, leaving them to find another good backup once Lundqvist retires. But Lundqvist clearly sees the writing on the wall and is uncomfortable with a mentor role, but loves this team too much to hurt it or retire elsewhere. Therefore, despite the gallons of tears I and many others would shed, I believe Henrik Lundqvist deciding to retire at the end of this season, and informing management of that decision before the deadline, is the best possible scenario for the future of this rebuild and New York Ranger goaltending.

Hockey season has started in Europe with the first regular season games this past weekend. Unlike previous seasons, all the Ranger prospects are playing up North in Sweden and Finland. Here’s a recap of how they performed.

Nils Lundkvist – Luleå (SHL): 2 assists

The 19-year old defenseman earned his spot on the top pair in the SHL with some great performances in the Champions Hockey League over the last few weeks. With 2 assists in the season opener, Lundkvist was a big reason his team managed to beat Växjo Lakers 3-1. With almost 19 minutes of ice-time, the 2018 first round pick finished with a +2 rating and was picked as player of the game by his teammates.

Calle Själin – Leksand (SHL): +1 rating

An often forgotten prospect, the younger brother of Lundkvist’s teammate Pontus Själin, Calle has had a tumultuous 12 months. While his team won promotion to SHL last season, Själin was sidelined with a concussion near the end of the season. In the team’s return to the highest level, he played 14 minutes on the 3rd pairing in a 5-2 win, thanks to former Ranger Marek Hrivik adding a goal and assist. Själin finished with a +1 rating but did not add any points to his otherwise solid performance. If he can stay healthy, he’s a prospect to keep an eye on.

Adam Edström – Rögle BK (SHL): 11:27 TOI

The 6th round pick in the 2019 draft made his SHL debut for Rögle BK on the 3rd line but had a rather uneventful performance in a 4-0 win over HV71. Playing center at junior level, the 6’6″ prospect played on the wing. Patience is key with Edström but him playing more than 10 minutes this early in his D+1 season is a good sign.

Karl Henriksson – Frölunda Indians J20 (SuperElit): 3 SOG

In his first game back from North America, Karl Henriksson played with the under-20 team in SuperElit for his club. In a 6-2 win over HV71, Henriksson centered the 2nd line but failed to register any points. With 3 shots on goal he had some offense to his game, but his bad numbers on the dot, winning only 6 of 17 face offs, were unfortunately more telling. It’s just 1 game, and Henriksson missed most of pre-season due to his involvement in the Traverse City Tournament. Expect a better performance in the following weeks.

Leevi Aaltonen – KalPa (Liiga): 4 SOG

Aaltonen played one game on the 3rd line, getting 11:25 of ice time in a 3-2 win over Jukurit, in my opinion the team with the best logo in hockey. His 3 shots in limited ice time showed glimpses of what he can do. The following day, he was on the 4th line in a 2-1 loss to HIFK.

Olof Lindbom – Mora IK (Allsvenskan): 47-save shutout

Although the regular season has not yet started, Olof Lindbom did play a game this week that is worth mentioning. In a pre-season encounter with AIK from Stockholm, the 19-year old goaltender made a case for him being the starter with a 47-save shutout. Mora won the game 2-0 but everyone was talking about the great performance of the teenager between the pipes.

The following players did not play

Jakob Ragnarsson – Rögle BK (SHL): Healthy scratch
Lauri Pajuniemi – HC TPS (Liiga): Injury

While hockey in North America is still a few weeks away, pre-season has started in Europe. This season, the New York Rangers have a total of eight prospects in Europe: two in Finland and six in Sweden.

Nils Lundkvist – Luleå HF (SHL)

The 19-year old right-handed defenseman is off to a good start with two solid performances against Björklöven (Assist) and Finnish Liiga team Kärpät (PPG). The young defenseman, who attended Rangers prospect development camp earlier this summer, suffered a freak injury during the subsequent World Junior Summer Showcase and the first reports were that he would be ready for pre-season. His performance so far is promising.

Earlier this summer, I spoke to my contact in Luleå and he told me they project Lundkvist to play on the top pair with Eric Gustafsson this season. Ranger fans should be thrilled by this development as it again confirms what some of us already knew: Nils Lundkvist is an amazing talent. Luleå plays one more pre-season game against Skellefteå on Thursday, August 22nd, before the group stages of the CHL take place starting at the end of August with home games against German team Augsburger Panther and Czech team Bílí Tygři Liberec.

Karl Henriksson – Frölunda Indians (SHL)

When the Rangers selected Karl Henriksson in the second round, he was named as a potential steal. The young center, who plays for Swedish champions Frölunda, will get his chance to win a spot on the team in the 2019-20 season. During the second pre-season game against Växjo Lakers, he was given first-line duties, centering Joel Mustonen and Max Friberg. Henriksson, together with 2020 top-prospect Lucas Raymond, is expected to make a push for SHL minutes this season but it won’t be easy. The team from Göteborg also plays in the CHL and like Luleå, they start with two home games, against Austrian side Graz 99ers and the Czech team Mountfield.

Calle Själin – Leksands IF (SHL)

2017 draft pick Själin, whose brother plays with fellow Rangers prospect Lundkvist in Luleå, was part of a team that successfully battled for promotion last year. Beating their fierce rivals Mora, they moved up from Allsvenskan to the SHL where Själin will now play against Sweden’s best teams. Paired on the second pair for most of last season, Själin battled injuries early on but is now back in the line-up anchoring the second pair on the right side. After losing to Brynäs, the next opponent is Karl Henriksson’s Frölunda on August 22nd.

Jakob Ragnarsson and Adam Edström – Rögle BK (SHL)

Two Ranger prospects are better than one. After the Rangers drafted Adam Edström in the sixth round in 2019, the Blueshirts knew they’d have two prospects playing together, as Rögle acquired 2018 draft pick Jakob Ragnarsson earlier this year from Almtuna. Both prospects were part of the team in the friendly tournament in Köln, Germany. Ragnarsson on the third pairing and Edström on the fourth line for two of the three games, both had a share in the unbeaten run to the Cup.

Olof Lindbom – Mora IK (Allsvenskan)

The controversial second-round pick in 2018 moved from Djurgården to Mora IK this off-season to get playing time for the men’s team after spending most of last season with the U20 side in SuperElit. Mora traveled to Belfast, Northern Ireland for two exhibition games. Lindbom started one, and made 30 saves on 33 shots, in a 4-1 loss to the Belfast Giants.

Lauri Pajuniemi – TPS (Liiga)

Kaapo Kakko’s departure from Turku is a tough pill to swallow, but it may open some doors for the other Rangers prospect on that team, Lauri Pajuniemi. The 2018 draft pick was moved up to the top line to replace Kakko in the first pre-season games. With four points (G, 3A) in two games against Lahti Pelicans and KooKoo, Pajuniemi is off to a good start. The regular season starts on September 14th and TPS has a handful of games still planned, including two against Danish clubs Herning Blue Fox and Rødovre Mighty Bulls.

Leevi Aaltonen – KalPa (Liiga)

My personal favorite selection by the Rangers of the 2019 draft, Leevi Aaltonen barely missed the cut for the Summer Showcase. The speedy winger started pre-season with his team KalPa in a bottom-six role. The first game he was on the fourth line, but a solid performance saw him being bumped up to the third line where he played alongside Montreal Canadiens prospect Joni Ikonen. KalPa has two pre-season games left before they start the regular season on Friday the 13th of September.

The last 17 months has seen an unprecedented amount of talent flood into the New York Rangers prospect pipeline. From the addition of 2017 ninth overall pick Vitali Kravtsov to the trade for star Harvard defenseman Adam Fox and the selection of Kaapo Kakko, the Rangers now have a prospect pipeline that is within the upper echelon of the NHL.

With all of these new faces joining the organization, we at Forever Blueshirts wanted to rank all these players and give you all just a little bit on each. Enjoy our forward, defense and goaltender prospect rankings, written by myself and Stat Boy Steven himself, Mr. Steven Voogel. We continue with the defense and goaltenders.

Defense

#1: Adam Fox

The only defenseman in NCAA history to average a point and a half per game over the course of a season. 86 points in 118 games for the USNTDP. 116 points in 97 NCAA games. Adam Fox is a force to be reckoned with and could someday be the Rangers dominant number one blueliner. He is a right-shot defenseman that controls play, can effectively quarterback a power-play and skates with the best of them. Fox, who was acquired in a trade with the Carolina Hurricanes, will almost certainly be a fixture on the Rangers blueline this upcoming season with top-four minutes and power-play time not out of the question. Fox is the top defensive prospect within the Rangers organization and a top-10 prospect in the world. – Russell

#2: Nils Lundkvist

The almost 19-year old is highly underrated by most fans simply because he plays in Sweden and is not as visible as K’Andre Miller, who plays at Wisconsin. Lundkvist has continued to establish himself as a reliable defenseman in the third-best league in the world; and with the departure of Jesper Sellgren, who signed his ELC with the Carolina Hurricanes, Luleå management has notified us that they intend on moving the talented Lundkvist to the top pair to play with former Flyers defenseman Erik Gustafsson. – Steven

#3: K’Andre Miller

Miller is one of the brightest prospects in the Rangers pipeline. Now standing at 6’5” and weighing around 210 pounds, Miller is a physical specimen and the converted forward’s ceiling is sky high. Miller had a fantastic freshman year at the University of Wisconsin where he scored five goals and added 17 assists for 22 points in 26 games. Many felt that he was robbed of the NCAA’s rookie of the year award. He is a dominant athlete that is learning how to use his size to his advantage, and while he won’t be turning pro this season, 2020-21 is looking to be a good time to predict Miller’s arrival on Broadway. Many thought Miller would need more time, possibly three seasons of NCAA service; but if he keeps progressing this way and has another great year in Wisconsin, he will be on Broadway sooner rather than later. – Russell

#4: Yegor Rykov

What a season for the Russian kid who switched teams in September. He moved from SKA to HC Sochi where he played under former Rangers defenseman Sergei Zubov and established himself as a bonafide top-pair defenseman in the KHL. Rangers management brought him over in April and signed him to an entry-level contract. Rykov has the potential to make the team out of camp and will battle with Libor Hajek for a spot. – Steven

#5: Tarmo Reunanen

Another case of a defenseman who blossomed after a trade, Reunanen developed into a top-pair defenseman with Rauman Lukko after spending most of the past two seasons as a seventh defenseman with TPS. Playing on a team that reached the playoffs, Reunanen quickly established himself as a driving force from the blueline. The 21-year old has a European Assignment Clause for the first year, so he’s likely returning to Finland for the season if he does not make the team. – Steven

#6: Matthew Robertson

The Rangers second-round pick from the 2019 NHL Entry Draft is looking to be a possible steal already. Robertson was projected to be taken in the first round in many mock drafts and he has all the tools to be an NHL blueliner in the near future. At 6’4” and 201 pounds, he is a big defender and could be a fantastic shutdown guy on a team full of puck movers like Adam Fox, Jacob Trouba, K’Andre Miller and Brady Skjei. Robertson is also a left-handed shot and the Rangers hope he can fit into their left side of the defense within the next few years.

Robertson’s skating is above average and while he doesn’t have that high-end top speed, he can make his way around the ice quite well due to how well he pivots and gets into good positions. He may never have the big point totals that Lundkvist, Fox, Trouba or others may have but he will make sure that no one gets past him and that players will think twice before making a move on him. Robertson could be an important part of the New York Rangers in the near future. – Russell

#7: Libor Hajek

The crown jewel of the Ryan McDonagh trade to the Tampa Bay Lightning, Hajek was having a so-so year in the AHL last season which made some think he wasn’t the player we all thought he was. Well, they were wrong. When Hajek was called up to the Rangers late last year, he didn’t look out of place at all and scored his first NHL goal against none other than the New Jersey Devils. Pretty good team to score against huh?

Hajek is most certainly going to challenge for a roster spot this season and hopefully, he cracks the lineup once again and helps solidify the left side of the defense. The former Saskatoon Blade has some high expectations on him considering he was the main piece in a trade for a former No. 1 defenseman; and make no mistake, Hajek is going to be an NHLer. The question is: how high up the depth chart will he make it? Time will tell. At 6’2” amd 201 pounds, he isn’t lacking in size either. – Russell

#8: Zac Jones

A surprise but a welcome one to be sure. Jones was the Rangers third-round pick in the 2019 Entry Draft and many praised this pick saying the Rangers took a big swing on talent. Jones was part of a deadly pairing on the USHL’s Tri-City Storm where he teamed with Flyers pick Ronnie Attard. Jones was named the USHL’s rookie of the year and scored seven goals while adding 45 assists for 52 points in 56 games. He had the most assists by a defenseman in the USHL last season. Jones, according to McKeen’s prospects, “is adept at getting past the first layer [of a team’s] defense with a series of dekes and drags, helped by his quick hands.” He is committed to UMass Amherst next season and his development is something the Rangers and their fans will be keeping a close eye on. Jones could turn out to be something special in the future. – Russell

#9: Calle Sjalin

Drafted in 2017, Calle Själin has two years left to convince Rangers management of his potential. He missed significant time with a concussion this season, but was a vital part of his team winning enough games to reach the promotion/relegation playoffs. Leksand, Själin’s team, won promotion and we will be seeing Calle at the highest level in Sweden this upcoming season. His older brother Pontus Själin plays with Nils Lundkvist in Luleå. – Steven

#10: Joey Keane

The former Erie Otter and London Knight is making his move to Hartford this upcoming season where he will most certainly be counted on to be a prominent member of the blueline. It doesn’t seem that long ago when Keane was a top prospect for the organization but with recent moves, he has fallen down the depth chart a bit. Make no mistake, Keane has offensive potential but there are just other players with higher ceilings ahead of him. For Keane, the challenge is now to dominate Hartford and to make a case for him to be an injury call up this season if need be. – Russell

Honorable Mentions: Nico Gross, Hunter Skinner, Jakob Ragnarsson, Ryan Lindgren, Darren Raddysh

Goaltending

#1: Igor Shesterkin

Best goalie in the KHL for the last three years. Highest shutout-to-games played ratio in KHL history and having won Olympic gold and a Gagarin Cup, the 23-year old who was drafted in 2014, has nothing left to prove in Russia. The heir to the throne, as many have said, will get every chance to prove himself. Expect a lot of “Czar Igor” references in the near future. – Steven

#2: Alexandar Georgiev

Henrik Lundqvist’s current backup, and a darn good one at that. Georgiev’s name has been mentioned as a possible trade piece due to the looming shadow of Shesterkin, but that could just motivate him to step up even more. Georgiev showed last season that he could handle a lot of the load and took a lot of starts away from Lundqvist later in the season. After such a phenomenal year last season is he still the bonafide backup? The battle between Georgiev and Shesterkin will be an interesting battle in training camp but I expect Georgiev to be the backup once it’s all set and done. – Russell

#3: Olof Lindbom

Probably the least popular draft pick in 2018, the 18-year-old goalie was drafted in the second round. Lindbom suffered an injury early in the season and did not play until January. But when he finally got back on the ice, he showed why the Rangers called out his name at pick 39. He played with the Djurgården J20 team in SuperElit and impressed enough to earn a call up to the senior team where he was the backup for several games. The talent is obviously there and Mora IK saw enough to offer him a pro contract. Lindbom will play in Allsvenskan with the team that was relegated at the hands of Själin’s Leksand last season. – Steven

#4 and #5: Adam Huska and Tyler Wall

Two NCAA goaltenders that have fallen down the goaltending depth chart a bit. Huska and Wall have put up respectable numbers in their NCAA careers but at this point in time neither seems like they will have a shot at being the Rangers No. 1 goalie at any point in the near future. Huska has finished his NCAA playing days and has headed to Hartford, while Wall has one season left at UMass-Lowell. It’s going to take a huge effort from either of these guys to pass anyone on this depth chart but who knows? Maybe we see one of these guys as a backup one day on Broadway. – Russell

When the Rangers used a second-round pick in 2018 to select Swedish goaltender Olof Lindbom, there was a lot of criticism. Why did the Rangers pick a goalie? And why Lindbom, who was ranked below other goaltenders? A year later, Olof Lindbom is on the verge of taking the next big step in his career by moving to a new team and signing a pro contract with Mora. I sat down with Olof Lindbom to discuss his experience being in the Rangers organization and more.   

Lindbom, born and raised in the Swedish capital of Stockholm, has played for local team Djurgården since he was 14. His younger brother, Carl Lindbom, also a goalie and draft-eligible in 2021, is moving up to the U18 team at age 16 for this upcoming season. But for Olof, who will be moving to Mora after spending the last four years playing for his hometown team, doesn’t think moving away from his family is going to be a challenge. 

“I don’t think it will be hard to leave Djurgården. To play in Mora is something I’m really excited about and it is the next step in my development of becoming a Rangers goalie.” 

Lindbom’s desire to occupy the crease at 4 Penn Plaza is clearly driving him to reach the next level.

Hearing his name called on day two of last year’s draft was a great feeling for the goalie who was only 17 at the time. The draft is a unique experience for prospects and one they will never forget. Our European correspondent, Steven Voogel, attended the draft last year in Dallas and noted how much the event reminds him of a high school graduation. Prospects dressed in a suit, mom, dad, and siblings walking with them as they navigate their way through a huge arena in – for the Europeans – a strange country. Lindbom’s experience was no different. 

But not only was the draft experience something that prospects, will never forget; getting drafted by an Original Six team like the Rangers has its own special significance.

“It was a great feeling, getting drafted. [It] is something you dream about as a little kid. I knew beforehand that Rangers is a great organization with a lot of history, so when they picked me I felt really honored!”

When Lindbom was selected in Dallas in 2018, he joined a group of Swedish prospects including Nils Lundkvist, Calle Själin, and Jakob Ragnarsson. They regularly discuss things and are quite close, knowing each other from playing together at different youth levels.

“We are all friends so we talk about a lot more than just hockey. But we all think we are very blessed to be a part of the New York Rangers.” 

In the past season, Lindbom struggled with injuries in the first half of the season. But, after getting healthy in the second half of the season, he fought his way back into the U20 SuperElit team. Goalies are always a long-term project and the Rangers and its fanbase should be familiar with that by now. It took both Henrik Lundqvist and Igor Shesterkin five full years after being drafted to make the jump to North America. Lindbom, who was called up to the men’s team in the SHL near the end of the season, has a good understanding of where his focus should lie in the near future. 

“To get to the NHL, I have improve the small things in my game and probably the most important thing for me is to raise my lowest level of play. Play less bad games over the course of the season and play more consistent.”

Lindbom, who is currently in North America for the upcoming World Juniors Summer Showcase, attended Rangers prospect development camp earlier this month. 

“This year, the development camp was really good for me personally. I think I showed the staff what I can do. And most importantly I got a lot of great feedback from Benoit Allaire, so I was happy with my camp.” 

Mentioning Allaire and the positive feedback he got from the goaltending guru shows that Lindbom is on the right track. As mentioned before, it will be a few more years before he is ready, but working with Allaire in the offseason will impact Lindbom’s development greatly. 

It should come as no surprise who Lindbom’s favorite player was as a kid. 

“My favorite player growing up was Henrik Lundqvist, and that made it even more special to me when I got drafted by the Rangers.”

The comparisons between Lundqvist and Lindbom will be made for a long time, since both goalies are Swedish, and drafted by the Blueshirts. Lindbom played with number 60 in the prospect development camp, but that isn’t his favorite number.

“My number has always been 30. From when I started playing hockey until now. I picked it as a kid because Lundqvist had it.”

The final six months of 2019 will be interesting for Lindbom. He has a pretty good chance to make his professional debut with his team Mora in the Allsvenskan and is one of the candidates to protect the net between the pipes for the Swedish national team at the World Juniors this winter in the Czech Republic. With Karl Henriksson added to the Rangers organization, there’s a good chance the Blueshirts have a large contingent representing Tre Kronor at the most prestigious junior tournament in the world.

“It’s always an honor to wear the Swedish jersey and the group of guys who I have been a part in is a very tight and fun group to be around!”

Playing with Nils Lundkvist and Karl Henriksson in the Summer Showcase this week, the young goalie will build on the relationships he already has with his fellow Rangers. Because that is what they are. Lundkvist, Henriksson, Ragnarsson, Aaltonen, Själin, Pajuniemi, Jones, Skinner, Robertson. Whether they play in New York, Hartford or Europe, each and every one of these kids is a New York Ranger.