The 2019-2020 season officially began on Monday as the New York Rangers announced their opening night roster without Vitali Kravtsov and Filip Chytil.
Following a two-and-a-half-week training camp and six-preseason-game slate, the New York Rangers have their team.
David Quinn has said all along that players would have to compete at a very high level to make the team.
With that, the Rangers announced Filip Chytil and Vitali Kravtsov would be among the players who will start the year with the AHL Hartford Wolf Pack. Ryan Lindgren, Vinni Lettieri and Igor Shesterkin were also assigned to the Hartford Wolf Pack of the AHL.
Boo Nieves was placed on waivers for the purpose of the assignment.
With the official roster now completed, the second-overall pick from the 2019 NHL Entry Draft, Kaapo Kakko, will make his Rangers debut at Madison Square Garden on Oct. 3 when the team hosts the Winnipeg Jets.
Lias Andersson will also hear his name called by MSG announcer Joe Tolleson on Thursday night. The winger came into shape lighter and stronger this year. His newfound confidence and determination were evident throughout the games he played.
Rookie defenseman Libor Hajek also made the team out of camp. The Rangers now deploy a 22-man roster.
OFFICIAL: #NYR reduce roster to 22 players. Chytil, Kravtsov, Lettieri, Lindgren & Shesterkin have been assigned to @WolfPackAHL. Nieves will be placed on waivers for the purpose of assignment. Reunanen has been loaned to Lukko in Liiga. Morrow has been released from his PTO.
— x – New York Rangers (@NYRangers) September 30, 2019
The news has to be a blow to Filip Chytil, who played 75 games for the Blueshirts last season. He began the preseason as the second-line center, but he struggled at times over the last few games and was eventually moved to the wing. Ryan Strome took Chytil’s spot as the No. 2 faceoff man.
The 2019-2020 Roster
Forwards (13) — Lias Andersson, Pavel Buchnevich, Jesper Fast, Micheal Haley, Brett Howden, Kaapo Kakko, Chris Kreider, Brendan Lemieux, Greg McKegg, Vlad Namestnikov, Artemi Panarin, Ryan Strome and Mika Zibanejad.
Defense (7) — Tony DeAngelo, Adam Fox, Libor Hájek, Brady Skjei, Brendan Smith, Marc Staal and Jacob Trouba.
Goaltenders (2) — Henrik Lundqvist and Alexandar Georgiev.
Other News
Hearing #NYR have signed Micheal Haley to a contract.
— Rick Carpiniello (@RickCarpiniello) September 30, 2019
Rick Carpiniello tweeted that Micheal Haley has signed a contract with the team. The team has yet to announce if it’s of the two-way variety.
Time to Get Your Kakko Jersey's.
Kaapo Kakko hit the ice on Monday morning wearing his familiar No. 24.
And it’s official: Here’s Kaapo Kakko wearing 24. #NYR pic.twitter.com/ErCkVmVwB6
— Vince Z. Mercogliano (@vzmercogliano) September 30, 2019
