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The other players to watch in the first preseason game

By Steve Paulus

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 03: Lias Andersson #50 of the New York Rangers (l) scores a short-handed goal at 4:52 of the second period against the Ottawa Senators and is joined by Brendan Smith #42 (r) at Madison Square Garden on April 03, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 03: Lias Andersson #50 of the New York Rangers (l) scores a short-handed goal at 4:52 of the second period against the Ottawa Senators and is joined by Brendan Smith #42 (r) at Madison Square Garden on April 03, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /
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BRIDGEPORT, CT – JANUARY 12: Brandon Crawley #14 of the Hartford Wolf Pack brings brings the puck up ice during a game against the Bridgeport Sound Tigers at the Webster Bank Arena on January 12, 2019 in Bridgeport, Connecticut. (Photo by Gregory Vasil/Getty Images)
BRIDGEPORT, CT – JANUARY 12: Brandon Crawley #14 of the Hartford Wolf Pack brings brings the puck up ice during a game against the Bridgeport Sound Tigers at the Webster Bank Arena on January 12, 2019 in Bridgeport, Connecticut. (Photo by Gregory Vasil/Getty Images) /

Hartford bound….unless

Brandon Crawley #46 – A fourth round draft pick  by the Rangers in 2017, Crawley has played two seasons in Hartford.  He had a good training camp last season and was one of the last players sent down, but never got the call up during the season,  falling behind Libor Hajek and Ryan Lindgren on the depth chart.

He is a left handed shooter and will play on the third pair with Brendan Smith.  He’s more of a stay at home defenseman and David Quinn has singled him out for praise after scrimmages.  He has one more year on his Entry Level Contract and with all of the depth in the organization on defense, he will have to impress this season in order to get a qualifying offer.

Jake Elmer #63 – Elmer was signed after a career year in the WHL with the Lethbridge Hurricanes. Some feel his numbers were inflated by playing on the same line as top draft pick Dylan Cozens, but the Blueshirts took a flyer on the undrafted free agent.

Elmer played five games for Hartford last season and was at the Traverse City Tournament.  He’s got a future, but this season it will be in the AHL.  The right wing is playing to be one of the first call-ups from Hartford.

Nick Jones #71 – Jones is another undrafted free agent, but was signed by the Wolf Pack and not the Rangers.  At 23-years old, Jones finished his college career at North Dakota with decent numbers.

He did impress at the rookie camp in June and again in Traverse City.   The right wing should have been one of the first cuts, but has made a case to stick around longer.

Danny O’Regan # 65 – O’Regan is a center who was signed by the Blueshirts as a depth move for Hartford.  He is a 25 year old center who has seen NHL action in 25 games over four seasons in San Jose and Buffalo.  He played for David Quinn at Boston University and was signed to improve the Wolf Pack.

O’Regan is a right handed shooter and unless he blows everyone away, will be headed to Hartford sooner than later.

Fighting for a future

Micheal Haley #38 – Haley is playing left wing on the fourth line and is with the team on a Professional Tryout.  He’s a fighter, having led the NHL is penalty minutes in 2017-18.   Coaches like players like Haley and he got into 11 playoff games for the Sharks last spring.

With ten goals in 248 NHL games, what you see is what you get. If anyone is going to fight tonight, it is going to be Haley.  The question remains, is the role of an enforcer still necessary in the NHL?  If the answer is yes, Haley has a shot at making the team.

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