For the first time this season, Hartford is solely in sixth place, as the seventh place Bridgeport Islanders are behind by a point and the eighth place Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins are two points behind.

Despite struggles two weeks ago, Hartford turned the corner once again this week in excellent fashion. The Wolf Pack performed well against the Utica Comets on Friday (4-3 win) to secure two points in regulation. Then Saturday, Hartford destroyed the Penguins affiliate by a score of 8-2. That game was crucial as Bridgeport and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton were ahead in the standings.

It’s going to be a competitive until the last week of the season. Considering how close the standings are, every game is critical. Hoping the Wolf Pack build some cushion down the road. It will not be easy.

— Ricky Milliner (@Milliner06) February 5, 2023

Looking ahead, Hartford has 27 games remaining on the docket. As the push continues to punch a ticket for the 2023 Calder Cup Playoffs, the group controls their own destiny.

The Wolf Pack need to snap their playoff drought as we approach eight years (2014-15 season was the last time Hartford had post-season action).

Hartford Wolf Pack Weekly

Tim Gettinger Heats Up

The 24 year-old forward is getting comfortable in his return to the lineup after missing approximately two months from injury. Gettinger returned on January 20th and has skated in nine games thus far. He’s now skating on the top line with Jonny Brodzinski and Lauri Pajuniemi which has paid dividends for the team and line itself.

Always ready 🚨 pic.twitter.com/cMdZueUiOZ

— Hartford Wolf Pack (@HWPHockey) February 5, 2023

Offensively, Gettinger recorded two assists in Friday’s game and had a three point (two goals, one assist) night Saturday. In fact, he scored eight seconds into the game and finished with a Gordie Howe Hat Trick.

We have a fight! 👊🏼

Gettinger goes at it with WBS’s Ansons.

They were THROWING! 👀 pic.twitter.com/MPMbmchi4S

— Ricky Milliner (@Milliner06) February 5, 2023

Gettinger has five points in the last two outings (two goals, three assists) and is buzzing. He was very noticeable, especially on the power play shooting often. It’s great to see Gettinger shaking off his rust and being a key cog offensively.

It literally took Gettsy 8 seconds to score. 8 🤯 pic.twitter.com/7Pte7exsOh

— Hartford Wolf Pack (@HWPHockey) February 5, 2023

On his defensive aspect, he continues to utilize his size and play simple in Hartford’s zone. Gettinger can get physical and is willing to get into the dirty areas if necessary. His positioning has been good and he’s a good passer, which leads the transition from defense to offense from forced turnovers.

Captain Brodzinski Continues Point Streak

The 29 year-old veteran exploded over the weekend offensively. Friday night, he recorded two assists, followed by a four point (one goal, three assists) night Saturday. The captain has not missed a beat since returning from New York and began his point streak in his first game back. Currently, Brodzinski is on a seven game point streak (three goals, eight assists).

VIBES pic.twitter.com/RGZit929hP

— Hartford Wolf Pack (@HWPHockey) February 5, 2023

Sammy Blais Gifts Hartford a Win Before Call Up

Through five games in Blais’ conditioning stint, the forward collected four goals showing a regained confidence. He certainly made an immediate impact in his short stint with the group and was feeling it on offense.

In Blais’ last game with Hartford, he produced a two goal night and pushed the Wolf Pack over for a regulation win. He was effective at all ends of the ice playing steady defense in addition to generating top notch chances that he capitalized on.

Blais utilized his AHL conditioning stint and came away a better player for it. He enjoyed his time in Hartford and showed tremendous gratitude to the coaching staff and players. He was great in the locker room as well. You could tell he was having fun playing hockey.

GWG 🥹 pic.twitter.com/vbrQhnK2sS

— Hartford Wolf Pack (@HWPHockey) February 4, 2023

Zac Jones – Ty Emberson Defensive Paring Continues With Strong Results

Hartford’s top defensive pairing continues to be reliable as the season progresses. In addition to Jones playing at a high level nightly, Emberson’s game was also strengthened. The pairing is able to produce offense in addition to being strong in the defensive end.

Emberson continues to develop well and take in the experience with Jones. He is aggressive against opponents, he is in the blocking lanes, and has a strong hockey sense to read the play.

Both players are making a noticeable impact and helping Hartford pick up points in the standings. As the offense heats up, their d-zone work remains solid.

Zac Jones ready to lead after AHL All-Star Classic

Zac Jones was the lone Wolf Pack All-Star after Will Cuylle was pulled by the New York Rangers from the event. The defenseman has 6 goals and 18 points in 27 AHL games this season.

Jones registered a few assists with the Pacific Division eventually beating the Atlantic to win the AHL All-Star Classic.

Check out the highlights of Zac Jones below:

They said ‘Breakaway Relay’ and Jonesy said ‘🫡’ and delivered pic.twitter.com/FLzbR8H3k6

— Hartford Wolf Pack (@HWPHockey) February 6, 2023

Here’s one of Jones’ helpers.

Here’s video of one of Jonesy’s assists 🎥 pic.twitter.com/ItJCI8f0WZ

— Hartford Wolf Pack (@HWPHockey) February 7, 2023

Wolf Pack News and Notes

One Timers

• Dylan Garand had a great bounce back win against Utica. The prospect stopped 26 of 29 shots to secure his eighth win of the season.
  • Garand is 8-9-3 with a 3.28 goals against average and .887 save percentage. Garand has two shutouts as well.
• Louis Domingue stopped 21 of 21 shots against Wilkes-Barre/Scranton to secure his 11th win of the season.
  • Domingue is 11-8-6 with a 2.47 goals against average and .910 save percentage. The veteran has one shutout.
• Turner Elson snapped his four game streak without a point on Saturday with a goal.
• Tanner Fritz has points in the lat two of three games (one goal, two assists).
• Ryan Carpenter recorded two assists on Friday. He has points in the last nine of 11 games (two goals, nine assists).
• Jonny Brodzinski is on a seven game point streak (three goals, eight assists).
• Lauri Pajuniemi has points in two straight games (one goal, three assists).
• Matthew Robertson recorded two assists on Saturday.
• Gustav Rydahl has points in the last two of three games (two assists).
• Zach Giuttari recorded two points on Friday (one goal, one assist).
• Hunter Skinner has points in two straight (two assists).

Wolf Pack Upcoming Games

Friday, February 10th vs Lehigh Valley Phantoms (Philadelphia) at 7pm, XL Center

• This is the second of four meetings in the season series. Hartford won the first meeting by a score of 3-2 on December 7th. The final two meetings will be in Allentown (February 19th and April 1st).
• Entering the weekend, Lehigh Valley is 22-17-3-2 for 49 points. That ranks the group fifth in the Atlantic Division and eighth in the Eastern Conference. The Phantoms are 3-2 in the last five outings and are 6-4 in the last ten games.
• Forward Olle Lycksell leads the Phantoms in points with 33. Through 33 games, the forward collected eight goals and 25 assists. Tyson Foerster is second for points with 30. Through 44 games, Foerster collected 17 goals and 13 assists.
• Listen – Mixlr. Watch – AHLTV.

Saturday, February 11th vs Hershey Bears (Washington) at 7pm, Giant Center

• This is the sixth and final meeting in the season series. Hartford is 2-2-0-1 against Hershey this season. The last two meetings were in Hartford on November 25th and 26th. Hartford lost the last two games (0-1-0-1).
• Entering the weekend, Hershey is 29-11-4-1 for 63 points. That ranks the group first in the Atlantic Division and Eastern Conference. The Bears are 2-3 in the last five outings and 6-3-1 in the last ten games.
• Veteran Mike Sgbarossa leads the Bears in points with 40. Through 40 games, the center collected 15 goals and 25 assists.
• Capitals prospect Ethen Frank is second for points with 37. Through 38 games, Frank has 21 goals and 16 assists.
• Listen – Mixlr. Watch – AHLTV.

The New York Rangers agreed to terms with depth forward Tim Gettinger to a one-year contract extension on Friday. Terms were not disclosed by the team.

Per CapFriendly, it’s a two-way contract for $750,000. His minor league salary is $100,000. He’s expected to start the season with the Rangers AHL affiliate, the Hartford Wolf Pack.

Rangers extend Tim Gettinger

Gettinger, 24, skated in a career-high eight games last season and did not register a point. In 16 NHL games, all with the Rangers, he remains scoreless.

The Rangers drafted Gettinger in the 5th round of the 2016 NHL Draft (141st overall). He picked up 25 points, including 10 goals for the Wolf Pack in 45 games during the 2021-22 season.

A strong checker, Gettinger can be a helpful call up for fourth line minutes in a pinch.

Matthew Tkachuk traded to Panthers

Rangers fans either still trying to figure out how to pull off a trade for Matthew Tkachuk or lamenting prior moves that make it impossible to do so can stop.

That’s because late on Friday night, the Calgary Flames traded Tkachuk to the Florida Panthers in exchange for forward Jonathan Huberdeau, defenseman MacKenzie Weegar, prospect Cole Schwindt and a conditional first-round pick in the 2025 NHL Draft.

The Panthers immediately signed Tkachuk to an 8-year deal worth $76 million (AAV $9.5M) on Friday.

This also puts to end a wild week for the Flames after Tkachuk told them he wouldn’t sign a long-term deal as a restricted free agent. The organization elected for salary arbitration to avoid losing him to a potential offer sheet and be left with nothing but first round picks for their young superstar.

Tkachuk, 24, registered a career-high 104 points on the strength of 42 goals in 82 games last season. He has 382 career points in 431 games since he joined the Flames, who selected him sixth overall in the 2016 draft. 

It should be noted that the Flames got back a player that scored more points than Tkachuk. Huberdeau, 29, scored a career-best 115 points in 80 games last season. He has a modified no-trade clause and is entering the final year of a deal that comes with an AAV of $5.9 million.

NHL News and Rumors

• Pierre-Luc Dubois accepts qualifying offer
• Patrik Laine signs 4 year deal
• NHL Rumors: Flames had a chance to keep Gaudreau

The New York Rangers have extended qualifying offers to four of their 8 restricted free agents on Monday. All qualifying offers had to be in before 5 PM ET. Players that did not receive a qualifying offer are now unrestricted free agents.

Here’s a quick breakdown:

Qualified

• Kaapo Kakko
• Libor Hajek
• Tim Gettinger
• Austin Rueschhoff

Not Qualified

• Justin Richards
• Ty Ronning
• Maxim Letunov
• Tyler Wall

New York Rangers qualify Kaapo Kakko

The Rangers choice to qualify Kakko, Hajek, Gettinger, and Rueschhoff are no-brainers.

Kakko is close to signing a bridge-deal with the club expected to be for two-years at around $2 million per season.

A quick look at Hajek and Gettinger shows them as depth players that can play a role with the Hartford Wolf Pack in the AHL. It’s also still possible that Hajek could be included as a depth piece in a trade.

As for Rueschhoff, the 24 year-old is a monster of a man at 6-7 and 230 lbs. Last season, he recorded 14 goals and 24 points with the Pack. He’s expected to continue his role with the Rangers’ AHL affiliate.

Kakko Bridge Deal

Reports have surfaced the the two sides are closing in on a new contract for the Rangers second overall pick in the 2019 Draft.

“Kakko is an all-world player who’s still developing,” Drury said per USA Today’s Vince Mercogliano. “He and I had a real good discussion before he left. There’s obviously a lot of belief from me and the staff of what his future holds. I know he’s excited for a good offseason and to come back next year and be ready.”

Kakko, 21, posted 18 points in just 43 games due to being on the injured list three separate times. For his three-year career, he’s managed just 58 points in 157 matches. However, his size, skill, and high potential does make him a very interesting player this summer for an offer sheet.

Per Mollie Walker of the NY Post, she estimates the number to force the Rangers into not matching would be between $4.2 and $6.3 million. However, Kakko left after the season sounding very much like he wanted to stay.

“I like to play here,” Kakko said. “I think [the scratch] gives me more motivation. I want to show I’m better than that. You should put me in the lineup because I’m a good player.”

NHL News and Rumors

• Maple Leafs working on a Matt Murray trade
• NHL Free Agent Tracker
• Dylan Strome a UFA, Georgiev’s new deal

The New York Rangers made the call-ups of seven members of the Hartford Wolf Pack official. They are as follows:

• Zac Jones (D)
• Nils Lundkvist (D)
• Jarred Tinordi (D)
• Matthew Robertson (D)
• Tim Gettinger (F)
• Lauri Pajuniemi (F)
• Keith Kinkaid (G)

On Tuesday, the Blueshirts will open their first round playoff series against the Pittsburgh Penguins at Madison Square Garden. For a full look at the schedule with dates, start times, and TV info please click here.

New York Rangers add to roster for playoffs

In the NHL Playoffs there are no roster limits and no salary cap. This allowed the Rangers to add to their deep pool of reserves for what they hope is a long post season run.

If you are wondering why a player like Bobby Trivigno was not included it’s because of CBA rules. A player is only eligible to join the team for the playoffs if they were under contract and their rights belonged to the Rangers prior to the NHL Trade Deadline on March 21.

Trivigno signed on April 1.

Of the seven players added today, Lauri Pajuniemi and Matthew Robertson were the biggest surprises. I felt that Anthony Greco, who played for the Rangers during the regular season would’ve been given consideration.

A look at the Rangers extras

If the New York Rangers are fully healthy for Game 1 on Tuesday, the 7 players from Hartford will lineup behind the these current reserves on the depth chart.

• Ryan Reaves (F)
• Tyler Motte (F – injured)
• Jonny Brodzinski (F)
• Greg McKegg (F)
• Justin Braun (D)
• Libor Hajek (D)

Now let’s take a quick look at the Wolf Pack extras in order of their likelihood to play:

Zac Jones, 21, played 12 games with the Rangers this season and tallied two assists. With the Wolf Pack he was their leading scoring defenseman with 35 points in 52 games. He is without a doubt the most likely player to see playoff action– maybe even over Hajek.

Jarred Tinordi, 30, was signed to a two-year contract in the summer and started the season with the Rangers. He played in 7 games this year with 1 goal. In Hartford, he picked up 5 points in 32 games. He’s a rugged defensemen with 109 games of NHL experience.

Nils Lundkvist, 21, made the Rangers out of training camp but struggled to find consistency in his first year in North America. In 25 NHL games, he notched 4 points (1G – 3A) and then posted 15 points with the Wolf Pack after being sent down in January. The Rangers have high hopes for the first round pick (28th overall) from the 2018 Draft.

Keith Kinkaid, 32, posted a .904 SV% and a 2.94 GAA for the Pack this season. Last year, Kinkaid earned his stripes with the organization stepping in when Igor Shesterkin was hurt and Alexandar Georgiev was struggling. He posted a 3-2-1 record during that stint. This season, he made one start and recored a 3-2 win over the Coyotes in December.

Tim Gettinger, 24, put up 25 points in 45 games with the Pack. He also played 8 games this season for the big club with no points and three shots.

Matthew Robertson, 21, played in his first pro season and put up 11 points in 65 games for Hartford. He is a left defenseman that could make the club in the future.

Lauri Pajuniemi, 22, had a nice first season coming over from Finland. He recorded 26 points in 51 games which included 13 goals.

NHL Playoffs Round One previews and predictions

The NHL Playoffs will begin on May 2! Here’s a look at all 8 series plus some predictions. Read more!

Alexandar Georgiev made an agent change, which was reported by ESPN’s Emily Kaplan on Saturday.

The goaltender was with Octagon represented by Robert Hooper and Mike Liut. He’s now switched to TSC Hockey and agent Gerry Johansson.

This summer, Georgiev will be a pending RFA with arbitration rights and expects to be working out a new deal, quite possibly as an unrestricted free agent.

News: New York Rangers goalie Alexandar Georgiev, a player many expect to be moved at the trade deadline, has switched agents.

He will now be represented by Gerry Johannson of TSC Hockey.

— Emily Kaplan (@emilymkaplan) March 13, 2022

Alexandar Georgiev changes agents

Georgiev, 26, is 7-9-2 this season with a 3.15 GAA and an .893 SV%. For his career, the 5-year NHL veteran backstop is 50-47-11, with a .908 SV% and a 2.98 GAA.

It’s been reported here and on multiple sites that the Rangers will not be extending Georgiev a qualifying offer. His current cap hit is $2.425 million and Chris Drury is looking for a much cheaper option to back up Igor Shesterkin.

The Rangers will attempt to trade his rights at the draft, for likely no more than a third round pick. If no trade is made, Georgiev will become a UFA on July 1.

Regardless, a new contract will be hammered out and it’s likely one of the main reasons Georgiev is making the switch.

Georgiev has been rumored to be wanting a change of scenery dating back to the offseason.

“There’s only one way to be in game rhythm is to play,” Georgiev said after losing to the Wild. “We’ve been doing some drills with [Benoit Allaire] and working hard in practice. I don’t know what else we can do. That’s maybe for us to think about.”

Rangers send down Tim Gettinger

Greg McKegg made a triumphant return to the lineup on Saturday. He started the comeback when K’Andre Miller’s shot deflected off his leg. The Rangers eventually won the game against the Stars 7-4.

In response, the Rangers have sent down forward Tim Gettinger back to the Wolf Pack.

Wolf Pack Press Release:

The New York Rangers announced on Sunday that the club has assigned forward Tim Gettinger to the AHL’s Hartford Wolf Pack. 

Gettinger, selected in the fifth round (141^st overall) by the Rangers in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft, has skated in 35 games with the Wolf Pack during the 2021-22 season. The native of Cleveland, Ohio, has recorded 22 points (10 g, 12 a). In addition, Gettinger has skated in eight games with the Rangers so far in 2021-22.

Over the course of four seasons, all with the Wolf Pack, Gettinger has scored 95 career points (49 g, 46 a) in 175 AHL games. He has also suited up in 16 NHL contests, all with the Rangers, and recorded one assist.

NHL Rumors Roundup

Get the latest on the NHL Trade Deadline including the Avs inching closer to a possible Claude Giroux deal. Plus the latest on the Rangers, Blackhawks, and two names now off the board. Read more here.

Since the league shutdown for an extend holiday break, they’ve been working on how to handle the issues with COVID-19 cases and subsequent postponement of games. In a new report from Elliotte Friedman here’s what teams will have at their disposal starting soon.

• Taxi-squad through All-Star break (Feb 4-5)
• Emergency call-ups (player must make $1M or less)
• Free goalie adds if club has less than 2 healthy goalies due to COVID

Rangers can use Taxi Squads

Now that taxi squads are back, it would be wise for the New York Rangers to use them. However, the rules will be different this season as players who are waiver exempt can’t be placed on them. That immediately means players like Zac Jones and Morgan Barron can only be regular call-ups from Hartford.

Last season, waiver exempt players could be placed on the taxi squad to travel and practice with the team. Here are the full rules:

• Optional and max six players
• No player can be on it for more than 20 days
• No player on an NHL roster as of 12/22 can be on it
• No player who is waiver exempt
• Anyone who was on the roster for 75% of the season or 16 of last 20 games

Emergency call-ups will be cap exempt if the team is in danger of dressing less than your standard 18 skaters and two goalie lineup. However, that player’s salary can’t exceed $1 million.

Possible Rangers taxi squad

Now that there is clarity on the rules, it makes picking out a taxi squad that much easier. Here’s six potential candidates.

Keith Kinkaid (G): The veteran backup is a no-brainer to be the taxi squad goalie. In his one game this season he beat the the Arizona Coyotes 3-2 and looked solid. Kinkaid requires waivers, but already made it through once.

Anthony Bitetto (D): The defenseman from Long Island, NY had a nice little run with the team last season. He provided a few sparks and was great for the locker-room. His 197 NHL games experience is invaluable. Bitetto requires waivers.

Anthony Greco (F): The 28 year-old forward has been solid scoring 21 points in 22 games in the AHL. He can certainly help in a pinch and potential provided some offensive punch.

Jonny Brodzinski: He’s the captain of the Wolf Pack and has received praised for his leadership and playing a complete game every night. The 28 year-old also has 62 games of NHL experience. In 23 games with the Pack he has 24 points.

Tim Gettinger (F): A big man that has NHL experience, who could contribute decent 4th line minutes if needed. Gettinger has 16 points in 21 AHL games, but that has never translated to the NHL level. In 8 games with the Rangers he has one point.

Ty Ronning (F): The 24 year-old son of Cliff Ronning, who was a star for the 1994 Canucks team that lost to the Rangers in the Finals would be another option. The winger has 13 points in 23 games with the Wolf Pack. He’s never played an NHL game.

Update: Additional clarifications have been posted to the rules. Waiver exempt players are allowed on the taxi squad. Here’s the latest.

Clarification on taxi squad. Players are ineligible for the taxi squad if they meet all of these 3 criteria:
-on roster Dec 22
-waivers exempt
-either on NHL roster 75% of days or played 16 of last 20 NHL games https://t.co/31LtbXMZ0r https://t.co/TlkCUQIoPs

— PuckPedia (@PuckPedia) December 26, 2021

NHL Rumors: 5 Hot Possible Trade Candidates

If these 5 players were to be officially placed on the trading block it would set the market on fire. Read More.

During the 2020-21 season, the NHL shortened the season to 56 games and implemented a taxi squad for each team. It would consist of 4-6 players with at least one goalie. Those players traveled and practiced with the team and were available to be recalled on short notice to deal with COVID related issues.

It should also be noted that the taxi squad call up rules were similar to that of AHL call ups and players that were waivers eligible must pass through.

Projecting a New York Rangers taxi squad

Whether or not the NHL reinstates the use of taxi squads, it would be a valuable exercise to determine who would be on it.

Last season, the Rangers opened the year with the following players on their taxi-squad: Morgan Barron, Anthony Bitetto, Colin Blackwell, Libor Hajek, Keith Kinkaid, and Matthew Robertson.

That changed many times during the season, as all but Matthew Robertson were used at some point. Let’s examine just who would make the squad this year.

Keith Kinkaid (G): The veteran backup is a no-brainer to be the taxi squad goalie. In his one game this season he beat the the Arizona Coyotes 3-2 and looked solid. Kinkaid requires waivers, but already made it through once.

Morgan Barron (F): New York has already called him up a few times and played in two games this season with no points. While it would make sense for him to get game action in Hartford, the fact he doesn’t require waivers makes him an attractive option.

Zac Jones (D): Many argue he should have made the team out of camp, and it would be hard to refute. He leads all Wolf Pack d-men in points with 17 in 21 games. Similar to Barron, it would be better to play but his waiver exempt status comes into the decision.

Tim Gettinger (F): A big man that has NHL experience, who could contribute decent 4th line minutes if needed. Gettinger has 16 points in 21 AHL games, but that has never translated to the NHL level. In 8 games with the Rangers he has one point. Gettinger requires waivers.

Anthony Bitetto (D): The defenseman from Long Island, NY had a nice little run with the team last season. He provided a few sparks and was great for the locker-room. His 197 NHL games experience is invaluable. Bitetto requires waivers.

Anthony Greco (F): While I would rather take Jonny Brodzinski, taking away all these players plus the Wolf Pack captain didn’t feel right. Greco has been solid scoring 21 points in 22 games in the AHL. He has to pass through waivers.

NHL: One Christmas gift for every team

Happy Holidays everyone. Here’s a fun article in the spirit of the season. Read more.

Per a team release:

New York Rangers President and General Manager Chris Drury announced today that the team has agreed to terms with restricted free agent forward Tim Gettinger on a one-year contract, restricted free agent goaltender Adam Huska on a one-year contract, and restricted free agent forward Ty Ronning on a one-year contract.

Rangers sign Tim Gettinger

The New York Rangers signed Wolf Pack forward Tim Gettinger to one-year two-way deal worth $750,000 and $75,000 respectively.

Last season, the 23 year-old forward scored 19 points in 23 games at the AHL level. He also appeared in two games for the Rangers towards the end of the season.

The 6-6, 218-pounder has played in 140 career AHL games picking up 39 goals and 34 assists for 73 points, along with 61 penalty minutes. The Blueshirts selected him in the 5th round of the 2016 Draft.

Rangers sign Adam Huska

The New York Rangers re-signed goaltender Adam Huska on a 1 year two-way contract. He will earn $750,000 if called up to the big club and $80,000 when playing in the minors per CapFriendly.

This past season for the Hartford Wolf Pack, the 6-4 netminder from Slovakia had an average season. Huska posted a 9-4 record with a 2.70 GAA and an .890 SV%.

For his AHL career with the Pack, he’s 21-17-9 with a SV% of .892 and a GAA of 3.02 with no shutouts.

The 24 year-old goalie was drafted in the 7th round of the 2015 draft. This would be his fourth season with the Wolf Pack. He is expected to backup Tyler Wall or Keith Kinkaid or he could join the Rangers new ECHL affiliate the Jacksonville Icemen.

Rangers sign Ty Ronning

The Blueshirts also signed the son of Cliff Ronning who played for the Vancouver Canucks in the 1994 Final. It is a one-year two-way deal worth $750,000 and $75,000 respectively.

Ty Ronning played 18 games for the Wolf Pack last season and scored 18 points. He notched 10 goals and 8 assists, setting career highs for the 23 year-old forward.

Drafted in the seventh round of the 2016 Draft, he has totaled 31 points in 79 AHL career games with Hartford.

OFFICIAL: #NYR have agreed to terms with restricted free agent forward Tim Gettinger on a one-year contract, restricted free agent goaltender Adam Huska on a one-year contract and restricted free agent forward Ty Ronning on a one-year contract. pic.twitter.com/aH8IeSqgHi

— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) August 6, 2021

For next season, they are not talking about expanded rosters but “taxi squads”. The issue with expanded rosters are basically cap related. There is no cap to worry about in the playoffs, but the regular season is a different ball of wax.

According to early reports, these taxis squads would consist of 5 skaters and 1 goalie. The caveat, is they would have to be on an AHL salary (under the $1.075 million threshold you are allowed to bury in the AHL without a cap penalty).

RELATED: NHL likely to shorten camp, invites, and add taxi squads

New York Rangers Return to Play expanded roster

Let’s first look at who the extra skaters were the Rangers brought with them to the bubble last season.

Forwards: Steven Fogarty (gone), Tim Gettinger, Vitali Kravtsov (on loan), Vinni Lettieri (gone), Gregg McKegg (gone), and Danny O’Regan.

Defense: Brandon Crawley, Libor Hajek, and Darren Raddysh

It’s very possible that Gettinger, Hajek, and Crawley could be on the taxi squad but let’s dive into it further.

Yesterday, I wrote about whom the Rangers should bring to training camp. There are certainly going to be battles for roster spots. At the moment, Anthony Bitetto is listed as the 7th defenseman, which is unlikely to remain that way. I see Hajek or Reunanen taking the 7th defense spot.

Also, Colin Blackwell is one of the forwards on the team roster on the Rangers website. That will not be the case as Alexis Lafreniere will make the team.

Predicting the New York Rangers Taxi Squad

When constructing the taxi squad, it makes sense to go with an actual unit. Three forwards, two defenseman, and one goalie. All have to meet that criteria of being either under the allowed salary limit or on a two-way contract.

Here’s who I see being on the New York Rangers taxi squad:

• Forward, Colin Blackwell
• Forward, Tim Gettinger
• Forward, Danny O’Regan
• Defense, Brandon Crawley (or Libor Hajek if Reunanen beats him out)
• Defense, Anthony Bitetto
• Goalie, Keith Kinkaid

I know, the first thing some of you are saying is why not players like K’Andre Miller, Morgan Barron, and Tarmo Reunanen? While they all have two-way deals, it would be better if they were actually playing in order to develop. Also, with Miller and Barron they have bonus clauses tied to their ELC’s that would already stress the cap.

RELATED: Understanding the Rangers cap situation and those pesky performance bonuses

Get to know the Rangers new “Black Aces”

The term “Black Aces” was made popular during the 1994 NYR Cup winning season. Nick Kypreos was a member of that squad and talked fondly about always being ready when the team needed him. Kyper discussed this on the latest episode of the Forever Blueshirts Radio podcast.

LISTEN TO THE PODCAST HERE

On this new edition, I added two centers in Blackwell and O’Regan. The 27 year-old Blackwell was signed this offseason and played for the Nashville Predators last year. In 27 games, he potted three goals and 10 points. O’Regan is 26 years-old and has 22 games of NHL experience with 5 points. He has been in the AHL for the last two seasons.

Two more members of the Wolf Pack were added with Brandon Crawley (D) and Tim Gettinger (F). The 23 year-old Crawley is a NJ native that has offensive upside and played one exhibition game for the Rangers. Gettinger is 22 years-old and has played 6 games with the Blueshirts, including 2 last season.

Finally, we go with two more players signed this offseason in goaltender Keith Kinkaid and defenseman Anthony Bitetto. Kinkaid is the elder statesman of the group at 31 year of age and was signed to a 2 year deal in order to be exposed in the Seattle expansion draft in 2021.

Bitetto is the most seasoned skater of this group with 183 NHL games including 51 with the Winnipeg Jets last year. The 30 year-old rearguard and Long Island native would also be the most likely call up on defense if there’s a significant injury.

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Projecting the Rangers expanded roster at forward

When the action starts, you can expect almost the same lineup at forward as it was late in the regular season before the pause.

• Chris Kreider – Mika Zibanejad – Pavel Buchnevich
• Artemi Panarin – Ryan Strome – Jesper Fast
• Filip Chytil – Brett Howden – Kaapo Kakko
• Brendan Lemieux – Gregg McKegg – Phil Di Giuseppe

Extra Forwards: Steven Fogarty and Julien Gauthier.

Now the Rangers will take those 14 forwards and look to add four to five more depending on if they carry three to four defenseman.

Vitali Kravtsov will headline the forward group

After a short stint in the KHL with Traktor this season, Vitali Kravtsov was sent to its VHL affiliate, which is basically infinitely worse than going from the Rangers to the Pack. After only playing a few games, Jeff Gorton got on the phone and made sure his prized prospect was back developing in Hartford.

In a recent Russian interview, before flying back to NY to take part in Phase 3 he said, “I am ready. I really missed hockey.”

John Davidson also revealed plans for the Blueshirts’ 2018 first round pick in a Zoom call with season ticket holders. The objective is to give him a shot in camp to make the roster.

Kravtsov will certainly have to earn it, but he’s still likely to make the roster. For him, just the experience of what the NHL playoffs are like will be beneficial. It will also help his maturity by simply practicing with the team during this time.

The bottom line, the Rangers didn’t bring Kravtsov back and have him miss his sister’s wedding only to send him back home in two more weeks.

Vinni Lettieri is a shoe-in

Vinni Lettieri, the Wolf Pack’s most consistent offensive threat is already here working out with the team during Phase 2. This could be his last hurrah with the Rangers since his contract is up this off-season.

At 25 years of age and having completed three or more pro seasons but less than 80 NHL games, Lettieri is allowed to become an Unrestricted Free Agent. That means he will be looking for an NHL team that needs scoring punch and can almost guarantee him a roster spot.

There is still a possibility that Lettieri could re-up with the Rangers if he has a real chance at a roster spot next season. With the cap now flat at $81.5 million for at least the next two seasons, the Rangers could be in the market for low cost talent up front for their lineup.

Remember this, Jesper Fast and Greg McKegg are UFAs. Ryan Strome, Brendan Lemieux and Phil Di Guiseppe are all RFA’s. That means the Rangers only have eight forwards locked up for next season. So Lettieri may not only still be with the organization but in the starting lineup as well when hockey starts up again in December.

Tim Gettinger

At 6’6″ and 22 years-old, there is still a lot of promise for Tim Gettinger with the Rangers. He has played 6 games with the big club over the last two seasons and would provide solid 4th line depth in a pinch. He will be added to the post-season roster.

Boo Nieves

Boo Nieves is another no-brainer. He has plenty of NHL experience with 76 games over the last four seasons. Nieves is 26 years-old and has the maturity to help the team’s bottom six in an emergency.

Other Possibilites

The Rangers could also decide to give Matt Beleskey or Ty Ronning a chance at camp to make the club’s expanded playoff roster.

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