New York Rangers: Training camp cannot start soon enough
The New York Rangers may not be ready to compete for the Stanley Cup next season, but 2019-20 is already shaping up to be one of the most exciting seasons in their history. They are five months away from playing a hockey game, but for most Ranger fans, it’s not soon enough.
The unofficial news that Igor Shesterkin and Vitali Kravtsov are signed and ready to be sealed and delivered to the New York Rangers only heightened the anticipation towards next season. Throw in Kaapo Kakko or Jack Hughes and we will have the pleasure of watching three of the most heralded prospects in team history all reporting for the first time together.
But wait, they are not done. The Carolina Hurricanes are preoccupied with their playoff series against the Capitals, but at some point they will get a trade done with the Rangers to bring Harvard defenseman Adam Fox to New York. It’s not a done deal, but all indications are that it will happen.
Add Jake Elmer to the mix too. The undrafted free agent signee had a breakout season in the WHL, then in a brief five game tryout with Hartford he had two goals and four points in five games.
Defenseman Joey Keane of the London Knights also signed an entry level contract and will be given a look. He was invited to the Team USA camp for the WJC and was an important player for his OHL team. He’s likely destined for Hartford, but he will get a long look.
22-year old Yegor Rykov is another trade acquisition who could be ready after a solid season for Sochi in the KHL. There is no word on him moving over to North American and if he does, he will probably needs some acclimation time in the AHL.
Libor Hajek and Ryan Lindgren are ready for primetime after showing enough in brief auditions. They seem ready to live up to the expectations that came along with their acquisitions at the trade deadline a year ago.
And when you add in the fact that Alexandar Georgiev, Brett Howden, Filip Chytil, Brendan Lemieux and Lias Andersson are all coming off their rookie seasons, things are definitely looking up. Oh yes, our coach just finished his rookie season as well.
And the best thing is the pipeline doesn’t run dry after these guys. K’Andre Miller, Nils Lundkvist, Morgan Barron, Riley Hughes and Tarmo Reunanen are all names that could become familiar on Broadway in the years to come.
Next season there could be as many as five stud rookies in the lineup to go along with five sophomores. That’s ten young men playing regularly for the New York Rangers who weren’t even a possibility three years ago. Add a free agent or two and things are looking up.
Not to be a buzzkill, but it’s important to temper expectations. There will be growing pains and they will make mistakes, However, the excitement that rocked the Garden when the Rangers tied their last home game with seven seconds left and the thrill of the overtime win over the Penguins in the season finale will become more frequent as these players mature.
Yes indeed, there is a lot to look forward to.