New York Rangers: Official training camp roster announcement

The New York Rangers officially announced the team’s 52 training camp invites on Wednesday September 12. The first day of camp is September 14 and figures to be extremely competitive from the start.

There is NHL hockey on the horizon and it is well within reach. The brutally long summer of speculation, rumors and trades that never came to fruition will finally be over. Come September 14, the New York Rangers will have 52 players in camp with a handful of roster spots up for grabs. The preseason presents an opportunity for both future stars and fringe veterans to make a case for themselves to crack the opening night roster.

In addition to the roster spot battle, there is the added layer of a new coach. Typically, a new NHL coach requires time to establish their philosophy within a locker room. The effective coaches in the league are those who get their players to buy into a mindset and make it a way of life. The reason players get up for Mike Babcock of the Toronto Maple Leafs is they are looking to avoid his scorn.

When it comes to David Quinn and the Rangers, it will be about building a long term strategy. This is not going to be a one year process in which the team’s prospects will all make a jump and come in ready to contend next year. In all likelihood, Quinn is going to have growing pains like most new coaches.

As for the roster itself, there is a wide mix of established NHL players, prospects looking for ice time and journeyman looking for a minor league contract.

Quick hits

• No shockers here, only Jeremy Brodeur and Bobby Butler are off the beaten path invites. Both are long shots to get an AHL contract, but that’s why they play the games
• The newly acquired Adam McQuaid figures to crack the Rangers’ top six, where exactly is to be announced
• The Rangers will likely stick to their formula of years prior in which they will break the training camp invitees into different teams for preseason games
• Make sure to check the lineup announced for the game if you’re considering going to a preseason game if you’re looking to watch a specific player
• Early picks for hardest player to cut include Libor Hajek, Ty Ronning and Brett Howden
• By all accounts, veteran defenseman Brendan Smith is in shape for camp, in direct contrast to what happened last year.
• Camp officially opens with player physicals and light workouts on September 14
• The team’s first preseason game is September 17 on the road against the New Jersey Devils

Keep Bluelinestation.com handy, this preseason there are far more roster spots up for grabs than in years past and we’ll have them all covered. In addition, if you’re looking to join our roster, you can apply here.