Who’s a hard cut?
Every single year during a NHL training camp, a handful of players exceed their expectations. Whether they be a fringe NHL player posting points in preseason games against career minor leaguers or kids way too young to be at the top level making an impact, someone plays above their means.
For the Rangers, their camp is littered with players that are somewhere between AHL and NHL talent. Depending on what the team’s desired outcome for the 2018-2019 season is will determine which of these types the coaching staff will keep around. If this truly is a rebuilding season, players like Ty Ronning, Libor Hajek and Tim Gettinger will be hard cuts.
These are young and exciting pieces that are all probably at least one if not two years away from being ready for the bright lights of Madison Square Garden. But, do not be surprised by a strong camp from any of them.
Ronning set a handful of club records with his WHL team, the Vancouver Giants, this past season. As a seventh round pick, the outburst in goal scoring was unexpected and a decent jump from his prior level of play.
As far as defensive prospects go, Hajek is likely at the top of the list. The former 2nd round pick of the Tampa Bay Lightning played a strong season for the Regina Pats in the (SOMETHING league). There is an argument that the Rangers would be better off keeping Hajek in the AHL as a top pair defenseman for at least one year before he makes the jump. But again, a strong camp could make an argument for him to stay.
Lastly, Gettinger is a unique player in that his large frame 6’6 205 pounds still needs to fill out. It’ll likely take the former St. Marie Greyhound putting on another ten pounds to make it in the NHL. If he doesn’t, his frame will be too slight at his height. In the interim, Gettinger figures to get decent chances during a preseason in which the Rangers have broken up into three different teams.