The New York Rangers made cuts on Thursday as they continue to prepare to start the regular season on October 5.
The New York Rangers finished the preseason with a 3-2-1 record and have forced general manager Jeff Gorton and head coach Alain Vigneault with some difficult decisions to make. Those decisions are in and they have cut their roster to 25.
OFFICIAL: #NYR have reduced its Training Camp roster by seven players. pic.twitter.com/HtPM7OPp5n
— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) September 28, 2017
There were certainly some surprises, as Vinni Lettieri and Boo Nieves were both cut. But the Rangers really liked what they saw from Paul Carey, who will be filling in for the injured Jesper Fast. The team also decided to send first-round draft pick Lias Andersson to juniors so he could work on his game in a top-six role instead of a bottom-six role that he would’ve been in with the Blueshirts.
Lines today (could shuffle Fri): 20-93-89/61-72-36/40-13-10/26-51-28. Desjardins/Fast extras.
D pairs: 27-22/76-42/18-77/55-147— Steve Zipay (@stevezipay) September 28, 2017
Newsday reporter Steve Zipay tweeted the lines the team went with at practice on Thursday afternoon. Rookie Filip Chytil was centering the second line for the Rangers, with Mats Zuccarello and Rick Nash on the wings. Chris Kreider, Mika Zibanejad, and Pavel Buchnevich have also been reunited after being a line to be reckoned with at times last year. Marc Staal and Nick Holden have also made the team after their spots were up in the air. Holden did not practice the last three days due to the flu.
Filip Chytil is this year’s winner of the Lars-Erik Sjoberg Award, given annually to the top #NYR rookie in #NYRTC as selected by the media. pic.twitter.com/T5L9D2AaPR
— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) September 28, 2017
On top of making the Rangers roster as an 18-year-old, Chytil was also awarded the Lars-Erik Sjoberg Award as the best rookie in training camp. The youngster has shown potential to be an above average center in the league and will get the opportunity to play alongside some of the best offensive talents the roster has to offer.
Desjardins really has no other options right now, and isn't costing NYR anything at this point.
— Steve Zipay (@stevezipay) September 28, 2017
Andrew Desjardins remains on the Rangers roster after serving his two-game suspension for a hit on Miles Wood of the New Jersey Devils. Desjardins remains on a PTO and it looks like the organization wants to see more of the veteran before making a decision on his future.