The New York Rangers announced on Monday that they have acquired forward Maxim Letunov from the Carolina Hurricanes in exchange for defenseman Tarmo Reunanen. 

This is a post NHL Trade Deadline move which means that Letunov is not eligible to play for the Rangers this season.

New York Rangers acquire Maxim Letunov

Per New York Rangers Press Release: 

Letunov, 26, has skated in 60 games with the Chicago Wolves of the American Hockey League (AHL) this season, registering a career-high 13 goals along with 10 assists and 23 points. Among Wolves skaters, he ranks seventh in goals and ninth in points.

The Moscow, Russia native has played in three NHL games, all with the San Jose Sharks, where he notched one goal. 

In 199 AHL games split between the Wolves and San Jose Barracuda, the 6-4, 180-pounder has tallied 49 goals and 57 assists for 106 points. He has scored 10-plus goals in all four seasons in the AHL and set career-highs in assists (28) and points (40) in 2019-20 with the Barracuda.

This is an interesting move and certainly helps the Hartford Wolf Pack, who were overloaded on defense.

Letunov also played three season with the University of Connecticut where he registered 35 goals, 60 assists, for 95 points in 105 games the release states. He is was drafted by the St. Louis Blues in the 2014 NHL Draft (2nd round, 52 overall).

All 3 players were playing in the AHL at the time they were traded and can continue to play for their new teams AHL affiliate.

However, because they went from on teams reserve list to another post Trade Deadline, they are no longer eligible to be recalled and play in NHL games. pic.twitter.com/frLwLFhHpU

— CapFriendly (@CapFriendly) March 28, 2022

Tarmo Reunanen off to Carolina

The Carolina Hurricanes have added yet another Rangers player to their team in defenseman Tarmo Reunanen.

Reunanen, 24, was drafted by the Rangers in the 4th round of the 2016 Draft. Last season, he played in 4 games and picked up an assist. The lefty looked good playing both sides but has a lot of work to do in order to climb the depth charts.

This season with the Pack he has 17 points in 40 games with a +8 rating.

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This season, the Blueshirts are proving that Madison Square Garden is no longer an enjoyable place for visiting teams with a record of 10-3-2. Now they go on the road where their 12 wins ranks second in the entire NHL behind the Hurricanes and Flames (13 each).

New York Rangers five game road trip

The Blueshirts traveled to Vegas yesterday and will face the Golden Knights on Thursday night to kick-off a five game road trip. Here’s a look at the schedule:

• Thursday, 1/6 @Golden Knights 10:00 PM ET
• Saturday, 1/8 @Anaheim Ducks 10:00 PM ET
• Monday, 1/10 @Los Angeles Kings 10:30 PM ET
• Thursday, 1/13 @San Jose Sharks 10:30 PM ET
• Saturday 1/15 @Philadelphia Flyers 7:00 PM ET

Aside from the Flyers, all other teams are above .500 with the Knights and Ducks battling for first place in the Pacific Division.

Rangers / Wolf Pack transactions

The New York Rangers made a taxi squad move yesterday by calling up defenseman Tarmo Reunanen and sending down defenseman Matthew Robertson.

Per Wolf Pack Press Release:

Reunanen, a fourth-round selections (98^th overall) by the Rangers in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft, led active Wolf Pack defensemen in points at the time of his reassignment with 13 points (1 g, 12 a) over the course of 21 games. He has skated in four career NHL games with the Rangers, all coming during the 2020-21 season.

Robertson, reassigned to the taxi squad on December 28^th, has appeared in 23 games with the Wolf Pack as a rookie this season. He has scored five points, all assists. The native of Edmonton, Alberta, has yet to make his NHL debut.

In addition, the Pack released defensemen Michael Lee and Michael Brodzinski from their professional tryouts. Lee is heading back to the ECHL’s Indy Fuel, while Brodzinski returns to the ECHL’s Orlando Solar Bears.

NHL Rumors

Could the Habs trade Carey Price? Plus NYR blue-line rentals and changes in Edmonton? Read more.

The swap of defensemen, whom are both waivers exempt is to keep them in game shape. Robertson will get into action with the Wolf Pack this weekend. Reunanen is not expected to be promoted to the main roster.

It should also be noted that per the taxi squad rules, no player can be on it for more than 20 days.

Tarmo Reunanen called up to taxi squad

Reunanen, 23, was drafted by the Rangers in the 4th round of the 2016 Draft. Last season, he played in 4 games and picked up an assist. The lefty looked good playing both sides but has a lot of work to do in order to climb the depth charts.

This season with the Pack he has 13 points in 21 games with a +9 rating.

UPDATE: Tarmo Reunanen has been recalled to the #NYR taxi squad and Matthew Robertson has been assigned to @WolfPackAHL.

— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) January 4, 2022

Alexandar Georgiev in a groove

Georgiev finished last night’s 4-1 win over the Oilers with a smile on his face from ear-to-ear. During his 33 save performance, he made a sparking glove stop on Connor McDavid that brought the Garden crowd to its feet.

Chants of “Georgi, Georgi” rained down on the 25 year-old netminder.

“Yeah I heard (the chants),” Georgiev said after the game. “It feels pretty awesome.”

What’s been pretty awesome is Georgiev’s play since stepping into the third period of 1-0 lead over the San Jose Sharks to replace an injured Igor Shesterkin.

Since that time, Georgiev’s stats rival that of his counterpart. In 8 appearances he is 4-2-1 with a 1.70 GAA and a .940 SV%.

Shesterkin’s stats since that game are 3-1 with 1.89 GAA and a .940 SV%. Impressive goaltending indeed from the Blueshirts backstops.

“I think a lot of credit should go to the defense, they cleared the way for me to see the puck,” Georgiev said. “The big difference from last year is sacrificing so much to do the little things to win games.”

NHL Rumors

Could the Habs trade Carey Price? Read more.

Entering the final week of 2021, Hartford is 4-3-1-2 in their last ten games. There’s plenty of hockey left as the club has 49 games remaining. The question is will the group find their game they had before the pause?

Additional questions to keep in mind are future potential call ups and changes to COVID-19 protocols. Every team in the American Hockey League has the potential to have multiple changes to their roster considering the National Hockey League’s situation with COVID-19 and fulfilling rosters. The next two months will be a tough go all around for hockey.

Wold Pack Weekly: Roster Moves

The taxi squads are back in the NHL until the NHL All-Star break. NHL clubs will have the option to utilize this addition to the season. As a result, AHL clubs may have to bulk up their roster with additional reinforcement from their ECHL affiliates.

Rangers Taxi Squad

The following players were called up to the Rangers Taxi Squad on Tuesday:

• Morgan Barron
• Jonny Brodzinski
• Tim Gettinger
• Adam Huska
• Zac Jones
• Matthew Robertson

Keith Kinkaid is currently up as well (through recall).

Each call up was well deserved. Zac Jones was the top defenseman in Hartford and he earned the reward to be around the Rangers. As a result, the Wolf Pack had roster additions from their ECHL affiliate, the Jacksonville Icemen:

Recalled from loan:

• Jake Elmer (F)
• Francois Brassard (G)
• Zach Berzolla (D)

Signed to PTO:

Brandon Fortunato (D)

Hartford, along with the rest of the teams in the AHL, were carved up by their parent club. From a Wolf Pack perspective, they are on solid ground in the standings. Each club will have new faces and the playing field is leveled.

The plus? The Jacksonville Icemen are in first in the ECHL. The Icemen compiled a record of 17-8-1-1 for 36 points (.667). Hopefully the magic from Jacksonville goes to Hartford to keep pace in the Atlantic Division.

Eye on the Pack

Tarmo Reunanen Continues Solid Play

The 23 year old defenseman continues to have a well-rounded game on a nightly basis for the Wolf Pack. While Zac Jones is getting the attention, Reunanen is performing quietly steady. The Rangers prospect found his spark offensively beginning in late November and has carried it since. Reunanen has assists in the last five of eight games (seven assists). Defensively the prospect is defending well against opponents. He is not afraid to clog the passing lanes and block opportunities. He attempts to turn the play the other way if he sees an opening. Reunanen continues to show a high hockey IQ on the ice and in situations. He is also another delight on Hartford’s power play. Reunanen is second among Hartford defenseman for points (12).

🎥 the goal that sent us to OT! pic.twitter.com/ldGkcUqFlG

— Hartford Wolf Pack (@HWPHockey) December 19, 2021

Covid-19 Protocol Update

Per Arthur Staple, Braden Schneider was unable to be called up to New York’s taxi squad. His status is “unavailable”.

Source says Braden Schneider was unavailable for a call-up to the #NYR taxi squad. Could mean he's in COVID protocol in Hartford. Zac Jones, who practiced with the main group today, and Matthew Robertson were the D selected for the taxi squad.

— Arthur Staple (@StapeNHL) December 28, 2021

Hartford returns on Wednesday and he could be out of the lineup. If the defenseman is out, he could return on the weekend.

Off the Ice: Building Updates

The XL Center is anticipated to have another addition to the building prior to the 2022-23 season. A sports betting lounge will be constructed on the west end of the building behind sections 109-100.

The Capital Region Development Authority (CRDA) posted a rebid of the XL Center renovation project.

Here’s our first look at the Sports Betting Lounge from the RFP attachments. Potential additional renovations could take place afterwards depending on funding & space. pic.twitter.com/A5ISVnzsxN

— Ricky Milliner (@Milliner06) December 22, 2021

The Capital Region Development Authority (CRDA) posted a rebid for the arena’s renovations. In addition to the sports betting addition, the approximate $100 million plan could be built in phases depending on land acquisition and the approval of funds from the Connecticut State Bond Commission.

The completed plan essentially expands the concourse level with the addition of premium amenities. The event level will feature expanded locker rooms for the University of Connecticut Athletics along with event level bunker suites and event level club.

The concourse level will have additional suites, lodge boxes, a food/beer hall, premium seating lounge, additional restrooms.

Stay tuned for further updates on the building as information comes in. For more information and renderings, please visit the CRDA’s Request for Proposals page.

One Timers

• Anthony Greco has points in five straight (two goals, six assists). The veteran has points in the last six of seven games as well. Greco had a three point performance on 12/18 against Springfield and a two point day on 12/19 against Springfield.
• Zac Jones returned to the lineup last Wednesday against Bridgeport. The prospect recorded two assists.
• Tim Gettinger has points in three straight (two goals, two assists). The forward also has points in the last five of seven.
• Lauri Pajuniemi has points in the last three of four games (three assists).
• Ty Ronning has points in two straight (one goal, one assist).
• Matthew Robertson has points in the last two of three (two assists).

Upcoming Games

Hartford has two games to close 2021 and one game to open up 2021.

Wednesday, December 29th vs Bridgeport Islanders (New York) at 7pm, Webster Bank Arena

• This is the seventh of ten meetings in the season series. Hartford lead the series 4-1-0-1. Hartford dropped the previous meeting on December 22nd in the shootout, 6-5. The eighth meeting is on February 20th.
• Entering the week, Bridgeport is 10-14-1-3 for 21 points (.429). That ranks the club seventh in the Atlantic Division and 14th in the Eastern Conference. Bridgeport is 5-4-0-1 in their last ten outings.
• Chris Terry leads the Islanders in points (23). The veteran has nine goals and 14 assists in 25 games. Forward Otto Koivula is second on the team with 20 points (six gols, 14 assists) in 22 games.
• Listen – Mixr (Bridgeport’s feed). Watch – AHLTV.

Friday, December 31st vs Providence Bruins (Boston) at 3pm, XL Center

• This is the fourth of ten meetings in the season series. Hartford lead the series 2-0-1. Hartford won the first two match ups (4-3 SO win on 10/17, 2-1 OT win on 11/13) and dropped the previous meeting on November 19th (2-1 OT loss).
• Entering the week, Providence is 11-7-3-1 for 26 points (.591). That ranks the club third in the Atlantic Division and fifth in the Eastern Conference. The Bruins are 6-3-1 in their last ten outings.
• Steven Fogarty leads the team (that is active) in points (14). The veteran recorded five goals and nine assists in 19 games. Prospect Zach Senyshyn and experienced forward Jesper Froden are tied for second in points (13).
• Listen – Mixr. Watch – AHLTV.

Sunday, January 2nd vs Rochester Americans (Buffalo) at 3pm, XL Center

• This is the first of four meetings in the season series. Both clubs did not meet in last season. The second meeting takes place in Rochester on January 7th. The third meeting returns to Hartford on February 12th while the last meeting is on April 16th.
• Entering the week, Rochester is 15-8 for 30 points (.652). That ranks the club second in the North Division and third in the Eastern Conference. The Americans are 7-3 in their last ten outings.
• Veteran Michael Mersch leads the Americans in points (25). The forward recorded 14 goals and 11 assists in 23 games. Prospect Jack Quinn is second with 24 points (11 goals, 13 assists).
• Listen – Mixr. Watch – AHLTV.

NHL Rumors

Check out the latest NHL Rumors regarding the Oilers, Rangers, Penguins, and Maple Leafs. Read here.

Per a team press release; Tanner Fritz, Austin Rueschhoff, and Tarmo Reunanen are headed to the Hartford Wolf Pack of the American Hockey League (AHL).

New York Rangers remaining camp list

The Blueshirts remaining players are listed as follows:

Forwards (24): Morgan Barron, Sammy Blais, Jonny Brodzinski, Filip Chytil, Will Cuylle, Julien Gauthier, Tim Gettinger, Barclay Goodrow, Anthony Greco, Dryden Hunt, Kaapo Kakko, Vitali Kravtsov, Chris Kreider, Alexis Lafreniere, Greg McKegg, Brennan Othmann, Lauri Pajuniemi, Artemi Panarin, Ryan Reaves, Justin Richards, Ty Ronning, Kevin Rooney, Ryan Strome, Mika Zibanejad

Defensemen (13): Anthony Bitetto, Adam Fox, Mason Geertsen, Libor Hajek, Zac Jones, Ryan Lindgren, Nils Lundkvist, K’Andre Miller, Patrik Nemeth, Matthew Robertson, Braden Schneider, Jarred Tinordi, Jacob Trouba

Goaltenders (5): Alexandar Georgiev, Adam Huska, Keith Kinkaid, Igor Shesterkin, Tyler Wall

Tarmo Reunanen will have tough road to make Rangers

Reunanen, 23, was drafted by the Rangers in the 4th round of the 2016 Draft. Last season, he played in 4 games and picked up an assist. The lefty looked good playing both sides, but with the rise of Zac Jones and Nils Lundkvist now ready to play in the NHL, time appears to be running out for the young Finn.

He showed last year that he isextremely poised and confident with the puck. Reunanen plays a heads up style that was evident in his limited action. He was noticeable for the big club in the fact that he wasn’t noticeable in his own zone. For a defenseman, playing defense is about being positionally sound and keeping the opposition at bay. Sometimes when you aren’t standing out in your own zone it’s because you haven’t made any glaring mistakes.

Reunanen should play top four minutes in Hartford.

Some practice lines

Today’s practice lines are good indication of who may dress for tonight’s game against Boston.

• Panarin – Strome – Kakko
• Blais – Rooney – Reaves
• Othmann – McKegg – Brodzinski
• Gettinger – Richards – Pajuniemi
• Miller – Trouba
• Jones – Schneider
• Hajek – Bitetto

Shesterkin will get the start in net with Tyler Wall as his back up.

Tonight's game group is in. pic.twitter.com/zOEkzOUija

— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) September 28, 2021

NHL Rumors

We can all agree that the soap opera that has become the Buffalo Sabres and Jack Eichel would rival some of the great TV classics. Slap an old soap title and it seems to fit. The Young and the Restless, or how about As the World Turns? Try on General Hospital for size, or One Life to Live. These titles seem to apply in one way or another.

One NHL Insider has an idea to help end this. Read more.

Morgan Barron and Tarmo Reunanen had immediate impact on the squad and were knocking on the NHL door hard. Ty Ronning, with his expiring entry level contract made noise as well, becoming a consistent forward after being a scratch early on in the season. Adam Huska finishes his second full season with the Pack and has shown noticeable growth in the crease.

Hartford Wolf Pack

There are going to be plenty of changes from top to bottom in the organization. With respect to Hartford, the 2020-21 season was successful from a developmental standpoint. The next steps are going to be intriguing as Hartford’s former General Manager, Chris Drury is the top dog in New York.

In addition to roster changes, Hartford will have a change in management as the General Manager role needs to be filled. The next replacement must continue the success that Chris Drury and Kris Knoblauch established in Hartford. Back to back seasons showed a winning culture and strong development. They will need to keep that going.

Let’s look at the contracts and possible roster for next season.

Players on NHL Deals- Returning

Forwards

Morgan Barron (C/wing)

Justin Richards (C/RW)

Patrick Khodorenko (C)

Austin Rueschhoff (RW)

Jacob Elmer (RW)

Anthony Greco (RW)

Jonny Brodzinski (C)

Defense

Tarmo Reunanen (LD)

Mason Geertsen (LD)

Goaltending

Tyler Wall

Keith Kinkaid

Players Eligible Joining Hartford on NHL Deals

Forwards

Will Cuylle (LW, Entry level contract begins in 2021-22 season. Forward spent 2020-21 season on AHL deal)

Lauri Pajuniemi (RW)

Karl Henriksson (C)

Defense

Hunter Skinner (RD, Entry level contract begins in 2021-22 season. Defenseman spent 2020-21 season through SPC)

Braden Schneider (Played 2 games in 2020-21 season)

Matthew Robertson

Players on NHL Deals- Up for Renewal

Forwards

Patrick Newell (C/LW, RFA)

Ty Ronning (RW, RFA)

Tim Gettinger (Wing, RFA)

Gabriel Fontaine (C, RFA)

Defense

Yegor Rykov (LD, RFA)

Darren Raddysh (RD, UFA G6)

Brandon Crawley (LD, RFA)

Goaltending

Adam Huska

Players on AHL Contracts- Up for Renewal

Forwards

Alex Whelan

Mike O’Leary

Defense

Vincent LoVerde

Zach Giuttari

The finalized roster for the 2021-22 season is far from complete. There are plenty of variables that will factor in the roster for the upcoming season. Stay tuned for an active summer for the organization.

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A full six-man defensive corps will be necessary to accomplish this. Along with making the postseason, Drury has emphasized the need for more grit in the lineup and there has been news of the organization wanting to add a veteran defenseman. The top four seem to be obvious, but there are many options to fill the bottom two spots.

New York Rangers defense: Adam Fox and Ryan Lindgren have emerged as the top pair

Even in their 2019-20 rookie season, Adam Fox and Ryan Lindgren often found themselves playing against other teams’ skilled top lines. Fox and Lindgren have developed a noticeable chemistry which helps elevate their play making ability in all three zones.

As a rookie, Fox impressed and made an immediate impact. He didn’t look like a newbie; he appeared very comfortable playing defense in the NHL which isn’t considered an easy task for a young player. Now, he has added an element of offense to his game that has propelled him into the Norris Trophy conversation. He led all defensemen in the league in assists this season with 42, indicating his play making ability. Additionally, analysts have recently compared Fox to Brian Leetch. Since the Tony DeAngelo incident that led to the defenseman’s banishment from the team, Fox has proven to be an excellent quarterback on the power play. It’s possible that Fox could eventually wear a letter as the team evolves and a younger leadership group develops.

Ryan Lindgren has been a pleasant surprise since coming to New York in a trade with Boston three years ago. He initially struggled slightly with positioning in the defensive zone but has since developed into a responsible defenseman. Lindgren also brings an element of grit and physicality that the Rangers lack. He’s certainly a physical presence, bringing big hits each game and not shying away from a fight. Being as physical and tough as he is, he sets an example on the ice that helps to develop a culture in general. Lindgren is still very young and as he continues to develop, the offense will come as well. There were a few glimmers of his offensive potential this season, and his game will only improve.

Jacob Trouba and K’Andre Miller are the most likely option for the second pair

Jacob Trouba mentioned in during his end of season media availability that he felt much more comfortable with the Rangers this year. He seemed to struggle a bit in his first Broadway campaign after coming over from Winnipeg in a trade. This season, he showed that he can be a solid top-four defenseman and a leader. K’Andre Miller spoke multiple times this season about how helpful Trouba has been to him. At 6’3″ and 209 lbs, Trouba’s size makes him a threat. He uses his reach to take away the opponent’s space and time, especially when paired with K’Andre Miller. However, Trouba plays his best when he plays a heavy game. He needs to make this a more prevalent habit going forward as the Rangers need more muscle.

Similarly to Adam Fox, K’Andre Miller impressed as a rookie, appearing to have little to no trouble adjusting to the pace of the NHL. Throughout most of the season, his defensive play was eye-catching though he did seem to experience a slight decline towards the end of the season. That could have been a result of the grind of an NHL season on a rookie even though it wasn’t a full one or a result of playing with different partners after Trouba was injured. Like Trouba, Miller has wonderful size at 6’5″ and 210 lbs but needs to learn to use it for checking as well as defending. Anywhere the Rangers can add more physicality would helpful as their mindset is currently too finesse oriented.

The Rangers must make decisions on Brendan Smith and Libor Hajek

While Brendan Smith is generally a bottom pair defenseman, he deserves credit for several aspects of his game. Overall, he doesn’t make many catastrophic mistakes and he’s versatile. He’s a pending unrestricted free agent this summer, and the Rangers could choose not to re-sign him. They want to bring in a veteran defenseman, which Smith can continue to provide. He also has some playoff experience, but with making the postseason as the goal the Rangers may feel they need bring in a player with more playoff games on his resume.

Smith can also play wing, which is something that former Head Coach David Quinn flirted with last season. Chris Drury has expressed his intent of adding more sandpaper to the bottom six. Moving Brendan Smith to the fourth line would be useful in that case; he brings a physical presence every night. He has also been a valuable leader this season in acting as a mentor to a K’Andre Miller and taking on Tom Wilson in a fight after he injured Panarin. There should be some serious consideration from the organization before they decide to let him walk.

Libor Hajek is a pending restricted free agent this summer, and the Rangers have to decide if he still fits into the big picture. When he first started in New York, his play was promising but he suffered multiple injuries that kept management from seeing what he could really do in the NHL. This season, Hajek played much more for the Rangers, but wasn’t really able to reach a point of playing consistently effective defense. While he isn’t costing the team games, he also isn’t exactly capitalized on the chances he’s been given. With other prospects in the pipeline and the possibility of acquiring another veteran defenseman, Hajek simply may not be the answer on the third pair.

What about Anthony Bitetto?

The Rangers signed Anthony Bitetto last offseason, and he played 14 games this season. In those 14 games, he had one goal and three assist for four points. That’s fine for a defenseman, but he doesn’t by any means stand out offensively. Defensively, he sometimes makes too many mistakes when in the lineup and he was a minus-8. He acted as a sort of placeholder this season as he was able to come in when someone was injured. Though Bitetto may be a good insurance policy, he’s certainly not a staple in the lineup. He may be taking a roster spot from a younger defenseman that the Rangers want to bring to New York. There’s no sense in him just sitting on the roster next season and not playing, especially considering there likely won’t be a taxi squad.

If the Rangers can find some way to trade him, that’s always an option. However, they may be forced to assign him to Hartford even though it seems a bit ridiculous considering his age and the stage he’s at in his career.

Tarmo Reunanen and Zac Jones should be competing for roster spots

Prior to joining the Rangers briefly this season, Tarmo Reunanen posted impressive numbers in 21 games in Hartford. He had four goals and 13 assists for 17 points, and only 4 penalty minutes. In the few chances he was given in the NHL, he showed encouraging flashes of skill and was mostly diligent in the defensive zone. Overall, he seems to definitely be more offense oriented. If he does make the team out of training camp next season, he will of course need time to adjust to the NHL like any other player.

Zac Jones will also be vying for a roster spot out of camp next season and got an opportunity to show what he can do late this season. Being that the Rangers have already gotten a look at him may factor into whether he makes it or not. Analysts have described him as Adam Fox-esque. Considering what Fox has been able to do in his first couple of years with the Rangers, hearing that about Jones is exciting. Size may be a bit of a concern as Jones is only 5’10” and 176 lbs. That could play a role in the time it takes him to adjust to the NHL.

If both are on this roster heading into next season they will be competing for roster spots. That is a big if considering the Rangers desire to add more proven young NHL talent at the expense of some of their younger assets.

When will we see Nils Lundkvist and Braden Schneider?

Assuming the Rangers can get Nils Lundkvist signed to his entry level contract, he will also be competing in training camp for a spot in the lineup. Since being drafted, Lundkvist has continued to play with Luleå in the SHL. This season, he had 14 goals and 18 assists for 32 points in 52 games. According to the scouting report on eliteprospects.com, Lundkvist is a “mobile puck-moving defenseman who likes to make quick decisions and join the rush. Lundkvist displays confidence with the puck on his stick.” His quick decision making will be useful in the NHL where the game moves much faster.

He has been in the Rangers system since the 2018 draft, and it’s time to bring him to New York. He’s had time to play against men in the SHL, and it likely NHL ready. It will be interesting to see what he does at this year’s World Championships as well. It will be curious if the Rangers don’t get him signed this offseason.

The Rangers traded up to draft Braden Schneider nineteenth overall in the 2020 draft. Schneider brings a physical style of play and good size to aid him in that at 6’2″ and 187 lbs. He will continue to develop physically and get stronger to be even more of a presence. He certainly does not shy away from big hits. His physical style is an integral part of his defensive play. He has a leadership quality as he’s the captain of the Brandon Wheat Kings in the WHL this season.

Schneider also has offensive upside, posting five goals and 22 assists for 27 points in 22 games this season. It may be useful for the Rangers to give him a year in Hartford to further develop his game instead of making a jump from juniors to the NHL. Schneider probably won’t spend next season with the Rangers. It would be more helpful for him to play meaningful minutes in Hartford instead of potentially being the sixth or seventh defenseman on the depth chart for the Rangers.

Note: all stats come from hockey-reference.com and eliteprospects.com

NHL Rumors

JD back in Columbus! Red Wings trade buzz and more here.

Making his debut tonight will be Morgan Barron and Julien Gauthier is also being reinserted into the lineup with Brett Howden suffering a fractured foot. Tarmo Reunanen will take Lindgren’s spot on defense.

Rangers: 26-19-6 (58 pts)
Islanders: 30-15-5 (65 pts)

Alexandar Georgiev takes the Rangers into the final game at Nassau Coliseum

Per the NYR:

Alexandar Georgiev – 9 GP, 7-2-0, 1.70 GAA, .944 SV%, 2 SO – Georgiev has allowed two goals or fewer in seven of his nine career appearances against the Islanders, including one goal or fewer in five of those appearances, and he has stopped 238 of 252 shots in the nine contests. He stopped all 29 shots he faced to earn his first career NHL shutout on Nov. 21, 2018 against the Islanders at MSG. Georgiev has earned more wins against the Islanders than against any other opponent in his NHL career. In eight career starts against the Islanders, he has posted a 7-1-0 record, along with a 1.64 GAA, a .947 SV%, and 2 SO. Georgiev is one of five goaltenders in Rangers history who have registered at least two career shutouts against the Islanders (along with Henrik Lundqvist, Ed Giacomin, John Vanbiesbrouck, and Mike Dunham). Since his first start against the Islanders in his career on Nov. 21, 2018, Georgiev has earned more wins against the team than any other NHL goaltender.

The Nassau Coliseum opened in 1972 on Uniondale, Long Island and has hosted 131 Rangers vs Islanders classics with the last one on tap today. The Blueshirts 56-64-8-3 and would love to close out that building with one final victory.

INJURIES (84 Man-Games Lost to Injury)*

• Jacob Trouba (upper-body; day-to-day) – has missed five games
• Chris Kreider (lower-body; day-to-day) – has missed one game
• Brett Howden (fractured foot; out for remainder of season)
• Ryan Lindgren (upper-body; day-to-day)

Rangers Pregame Notes*

• All-Time vs Islanders: 132-120-19-10 (74-50-11-6 at home; 58-70-8-4 on the road)
• The Blueshirts are the only NHL team that has five players who have recorded at least 44 points in 2020-21 (no other team has more than three). New York is one of two NHL teams that have three players who have registered 20 or more goals this season (Pittsburgh).
• Beginning with the game following their loss on Mar. 11 at Boston, the Blueshirts have posted an 8-2-0 record in the game following a loss.
• Artemi Panarin and Adam Fox are each averaging at least 0.80 assists per game this season. The Rangers have only had two seasons in franchise history which a forward and a defenseman have each averaged 0.80 or more assists per game (1991-92 and 1992-93 – Messier and Leetch). 
• Alexis Lafrenière tallied his 10th goal of the season on Apr. 27 vs. Buffalo. According to NHL Stats and Information, he became the fifth teenager to register at least 10 goals in a season with the Rangers in franchise history (Mike Allison, Alexei Kovalev, Filip Chytil, and Kaapo Kakko).

*Notes courtesy NYR

NHL Rumors

Get the latest rumors here.

INJURY UPDATES:

-Chris Kreider (lower body) and Ryan Lindgren (upper body) are both not practicing today and are out day to day.

-Brett Howden suffered a fractured foot last night and will be sidelined for the remainder of the season.

— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) April 30, 2021

Rangers call up both Morgan Barron and Tarmo Reunanen

The Rangers due to injury concerns have called up forward Morgan Barron and defenseman Tarmo Reunanen for the remainder of the season. Per the team’s website:

Barron, 22, has skated in 21 games with the Wolf Pack this season, registering 10 goals and 11 assists for 21 points, along with a plus-eight rating and 20 penalty minutes. He has recorded a point in 17 of Hartford’s 21 games in 2020-21, including a goal in nine of those contests. Barron is tied for third among AHL rookies in goals and is tied for sixth among AHL rookies in points this season. In addition, he is tied for second in the AHL in power play goals (six) in 2020-21. Barron leads Hartford in goals, points, shots on goal (57), and plus/minus rating this season.

Reunanen, 23, has skated in 21 AHL games with Hartford this season, registering four goals and 13 assists for 17 points. He leads the Wolf Pack in assists and is tied for second on the team in points in 2020-21, and his 17 points are also the most among Hartford defensemen. Reunanen is tied for third among AHL defensemen in points and is tied for fifth among AHL defensemen in assists this season. He has tallied a point in eight of the last 11 games, and he has recorded 12 points (two goals, 10 assists) over the span.

I wrote yesterday that the playoff chase would likely keep Barron out, but with their loss yesterday and a Boston win they are all but eliminated officially. Expect both to debut Saturday against the Islanders.

Lauri Pajuniemi signs his ELC

When asked about his future, Pajumiemi was straightforward. “Somewhere other than in Finland,” Pajuniemi said to Iltalehti. “At some point, these issues will be resolved. I will probably not continue in Finland.” His contract with TPS expires this summer and one team that he’s been attached to is another Liiga team in Lukko.

“There has been no concrete negotiation with Lukko,” the fifth round selection said about the TPS rival. “Yes my goal is to take the next step in my career. Of course, I do not rule out Rangers. In addition to KHL and SHL, everyone is interested.”

The Rangers obviously heard Lauri loud and clear and inked him to his ELC yesterday.

Lauri Pajuniemi NY #Rangers
2 year ELC starting in 2021-22
$883,750 cap hit / $925,000 AAV

2021-22: $750.0k base + $92.5k SB + $82.5k GP
2022-23: $832.5k base + $92.5k SB

Pajuniemi was drafted by the Rangers in the 5th RD (132nd overall) in 2018.https://t.co/hrFHo4mfzw

— CapFriendly (@CapFriendly) April 29, 2021

NHL Rumors

In the latest NHL Rumors, the league is considering wild card changes. Read more here.

Braden Schneider and Matthew Robertson dominating WHL from the blue-line

Matthew Robertson is a 20 year-old Canadian left handed defenseman the Rangers drafted in the second round of 2019. At 6-4 and 201 lbs he already has the size to play in the NHL. Braden Schneider is another Canadian born defender drafted in the 2020 draft in the first round. The Blueshirts thought so highly of him they tried to move up several times in the to pick him before striking a deal with the Flames to select 19th overall. Adding the 6-2 and 202 lbs righty 19 year-old was a big move. He plays the game mean and was named the captain of the Brandon Wheat Kings to start the year.

This season in the WHL both Robertson and Schneider are both having great campaigns for their respective teams. Last night Schneider notched his second OT winner in the past three games. On the WHL season he has 23 points, a +20 rating in 20 games. As for Robertson, he scored on an absolute blast from the point for his 17th point in 17 games this season.

Here’s a closer look at their stat lines:

• Schneider (21 GP, 5-22-27, +21, 12 PIM)
• Robertson (18 GP, 3-15-18, +23, 18 PIM)

Latest on Nils Lundkvist

Nils Lundkvist’s SHL team Lulea was eliminated in game 7 last week. The future blue-line star is committed to Team Sweden for the upcoming IIHF World Championships but could be signing his ELC soon. If you recall, after the trade deadline Jeff Gorton was asked about Nils and he stated that he would be coming over next season.

Nils Lundkvist completed his season with two playoff goals. In 166 career SHL games he had 78 points which is the most points by any defenseman under 21 in league history.

• Ranked fifth in the SHL (ranked second among SHL defensemen) in shots on goal in 2020-21 (156); was one shot on goal shy of tying the leader among SHL defensemen for the season
• Tallied 14 goals and 32 points this season, establishing an SHL career-high in each category; led SHL defensemen in goals and power play goals (eight) this season
  • His 14 goals are the most by a defenseman in one season as a U21 player or younger in SHL history
• Ranked 12th in the SHL in average ice time in 2020-21 (21:24)

Season Stats – 52 GP, 14-18-32, -1, 30 PIM
Playoff Stats – 7 GP, 2-0-2, -2, 4 PIM

Lauri Pajuniemi dilemma

Lauri Pajuniemi has also been in the news for not just his on ice prowess this season. The 21 -year old winger that still has his sights set on the NHL. “Being drafted meant so much for me. I will remember that day for the rest of my life for sure,” he said about being selected in 2018. “The (Rangers)jersey I got at the draft means a lot to me and it’s at my parents’ home hanging on the wall“, he told us back in June of 2020.

After another year of dominating Liiga, he wants to play anywhere but Finland. When asked about his future, Pajumiemi was straightforward. “Somewhere other than in Finland,” Pajuniemi said to Iltalehti. “At some point, these issues will be resolved. I will probably not continue in Finland.” His contract with TPS expires this summer and one team that he’s been attached to is Lukko.

“There has been no concrete negotiation with Lukko,” the fifth round selection said about the TPS rival. “Yes my goal is to take the next step in my career. Of course, I do not rule out Rangers. In addition to KHL and SHL, everyone is interested.”

It will be interesting to see what happens next for Pajuniemi, but for now his team has advanced to the next round of the playoffs.

Season Stats – 48 GP, 22-16-38, +12, 38 PIM
Playoff Stats – 5 GP, 1-3-4, +1, 6 PIM

Morgan Barron and Tarmo Reunanen leading the Wolf Pack

The Rangers have three call-ups left and two are expected to be used on Barron and Reunanen. Here’s a quick snapshot of their seasons so far.

Morgan Barron (20 GP, 10-9-19, +7, 20 PIM)

• Tallied a point and posted a plus-one rating in each of Hartford’s two games during the week (one goal, one assist)
• Has recorded a point in 16 of the Wolf Pack’s 20 games this season, including a goal in nine of the 20 contests
• Is tied for third among AHL rookies in goals (10) and is tied for ninth among AHL rookies in points (19) this season
• Is tied for second in the AHL in power play goals in 2020-21 (six)
• Leads Hartford in goals, points, power play goals, and plus/minus rating (plus-seven), ranks second in shots on goal (54), and is tied for fourth in assists (nine) this season

Tarmo Reunanen (20 GP, 3-12-15, -2, 4 PIM)

• Tallied an assist on Apr. 22 at Providence
• Has recorded a point in seven of the last 10 games (one goal, nine assists)
• Is tied for the team lead in assists (12) and ranks fourth on Hartford in points (15) this season
• Is tied for sixth among AHL defensemen in assists and is tied for eighth among AHL defensemen in points in 2020-21

Some notes courtesy NYR

NHL News: Gretzky believes McDavid can hit 100 points this season

The Great One dishes on McDavid’s chase for 100 points. Read it here.