New York Rangers Brady Skjei Gives USA 4 Goal Lead over France

Dec 15, 2015; New York, NY, USA; New York Rangers defenseman Brady Skjei (76) enters the game against the Edmonton Oilers during the first period at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 15, 2015; New York, NY, USA; New York Rangers defenseman Brady Skjei (76) enters the game against the Edmonton Oilers during the first period at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

New York Rangers Up-and-Coming Star Helps U.S. Men’s National Team Beat France

This morning, the USA Men’s National Team took on France during a preliminary IIHF Men’s World Championship game. Before the game, the projected lines placed New York Rangers up-and-coming defenseman, Brady Skjei, on the second pair of blue liners.

Once the game had ended, Brad Skjei recorded 16:35 minutes of ice time, with only David Warsofsky, 17:28 minutes, recorded more time on ice. Skjei also recorded a goal early in the third period that put team USA up 4-0.

Team USA will continue preliminary play tomorrow, as they take on Hungary. After that game has been decided, the team will play Germany and Slovakia before the Quarterfinals begin, which you can watch on NBC Sports Live Extra.

In the meantime, the New York Rangers front office will be at work trying to find a way to sign Pavel Buchnevick and deciding who they should invite to training camp.

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Brady Skjei and Pavel Buchnevick

If the New York Rangers can find a way to bring Pavel Buchnevick to New York before the summer is over, they would expect him to compete for a top-nine spot on their roster. After all, he is their number one prospect and if the New York Rangers are willing to place that tag on his head, he better be able to show fans why so much talk and noise surrounds him. 

Brady Skjei will be given ample time to prove just how good he can become this summer. He has already shown that he can play with the big boys this past season. He played very well when Ryan McDonagh was injured during the end of the regular season and throughout the playoffs. He also seems to be playing well with Team USA and will continue to log time with them throughout the off-season. 

Next: New York Rangers Look for Next (Younger) Dan Boyle

Skjei should be locked-in to the New York Rangers top-six rotation come next season, along with other young d-men like Dylan McIlrath. What makes this summer exciting is the Rangers realistic shot at acquiring youthful talent. If they can nail down Buchnevick, Malte Stromwall comes onto the scene with, speed and the ability to get the puck on net, well than I believe the New York Rangers will look back on this offseason as one that went extremely well. 

There are still undoubtedly holes in their game, however, all of these players are highly toted and very young, Buchnevick and Stromwall are 21 years old and Skjei is 22. That was the goal of the offseason, was it not? Find a way to acquire youthful, cheap talent, with potential to grow into franchise type players that may become the new core of the New York Rangers in the near future.