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With 35 players allowed at training camp, who should go?

By Steve Paulus

Sep 26, 2019; New York, NY, USA; The New York Rangers celebrate after a game-winning goal by center Mika Zibanejad (93) during a shootout against the Philadelphia Flyers at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Sarah Stier-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 26, 2019; New York, NY, USA; The New York Rangers celebrate after a game-winning goal by center Mika Zibanejad (93) during a shootout against the Philadelphia Flyers at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Sarah Stier-USA TODAY Sports /
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A general view of action during the third period between the New York Islanders and the New York Rangers Mandatory Credit: Sarah Stier-USA TODAY Sports
A general view of action during the third period between the New York Islanders and the New York Rangers Mandatory Credit: Sarah Stier-USA TODAY Sports /

Smaller training camp roster will be an issue for teams like the New York Rangers

There was a virtual meeting last week by the general managers of all 31 NHL teams as they discussed how they are going to get the 2020-21 season going.  While the call was not public, there have been numerous reports about what was discussed.   Larry Brooks of the New York Post relayed many of the proposals that the NHL is discussing.

Some of the details were purely logistical.  Training camps will last 14 days and will include three or four exhibition games.  The seven teams that didn’t make the Stanley Cup Qualifier will be given more time,  as much as a week to ten days.

It the size of the roster that can be attend training camp that will be a problem for most teams, including the Rangers.  According to Brooks, only 35 players will be allowed to attend.  35 players is not a lot, considering that last season there were 56 players invited.

What it means is the camp will really be limited only to players who have a realistic chance of making the team and with the possibility of expanded rosters when the season starts, as many as 30 or more of the players could stay with the varsity.

The roster issues

When you look at the 2020-21 New York Rangers, it’s easy to figure out who will definitely be on the team.  It’s much harder to determine which players on the bubble could make the varsity.  Teams traditionally invite prospects who have no shot at the big league roster to the camp to give them a taste of New York Rangers hockey.  With the limitations, that just won’t happen.

Another challenge will be with players on loan to European clubs.  There are five players currently in Europe technically on “loan.”  Right winger Vitali Kravtsov and defensman Yegor Rykov are in the KHL in Russia.  Defender Tarmo Reunanen is playing in the Mestis League in Finland.  Goalie Adam Huska is playing in the Tipos Extraliga in Slovakia and Libor Hajek is still working out a playing arrangement in the Czech Republic.

If a player in Europe is not guaranteed a job with the Rangers, do they fly him back to the United States for what is essentially a tryout?  They may feel it is better to leave the player there until his season is over.

Entry level players are another issue.  A young player signed to an Entry Level Contract would inevitably be destined to play in Hartford, but has an outside chance of making the big club.   The Rangers have a number of these players and without a Traverse City Prospects Tournament, management won’t have a chance to make  some preliminary observations about these players.

The bubble players have the most to lose.  There are more of them than there are training camp rosters spots and if a player is not invited, it would say a lot about the team’s plans for him.

Here are the Rangers’ options for training camp roster slots.

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