Blue Line Station
Fansided

How important is this year’s preseason for the New York Rangers?

By Travis Novak

NEW YORK, NY - FEBRUARY 23: New York Rangers Goalie Alexandar Georgiev (40) kicks a shot just wide of the net during the third period of the National Hockey League game between the New Jersey Devils and the New York Rangers on February 23, 2019 at Madison Square Garden in New York, NY. (Photo by Joshua Sarner/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - FEBRUARY 23: New York Rangers Goalie Alexandar Georgiev (40) kicks a shot just wide of the net during the third period of the National Hockey League game between the New Jersey Devils and the New York Rangers on February 23, 2019 at Madison Square Garden in New York, NY. (Photo by Joshua Sarner/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 3
Next
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 18: Igor Shesterkin #31 of the New York Rangers makes the third period save on Miles Wood #44 of the New Jersey Devils at Madison Square Garden on September 18, 2019 in New York City. The Devils defeated the Rangers 4-3. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 18: Igor Shesterkin #31 of the New York Rangers makes the third period save on Miles Wood #44 of the New Jersey Devils at Madison Square Garden on September 18, 2019 in New York City. The Devils defeated the Rangers 4-3. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /

The long awaited goalie tandem

The future of the New York Rangers goalie duo may very well end up consisting of Igor Shesterkin and Alexandar Georgiev, or it could be just a dream, but the two were together for the first time in game one. While it took Georgiev a little time to get back into the swing of things he eventually gained his game back.

Halfway through the second period the Rangers made the switch and the debut which has felt like a long time coming was announced. “Now in goal for the Rangers, Number 31 Igor Shesterkin”. The fans wasted no time after Shesterkin made a few key saves to start the Igor chant and a new era took over the air at Madison Square Garden.

Although Shesterkin only faced 13 shots, he was solid only allowing one goal, its crucial to see what Shesterkin can do at an NHL level making the tough transition from the KHL and their bigger rink size to the NHL. The preseason will show us what we have in Shesterkin and already NHL proven Georgiev. It’s  important to note that while we have waited for this moment, the development of Shesterkin is more important than his immediate impact in the NHL and for that reason he will play most of the season with the Hartford Wolf Pack.

Henrik Lundqvist got off to a shaky start in game two giving up three goals in the first period. Lundqvist looked better in the second and overall allowed three goals on 24 shots.  This is not something to be worried about as it was the first game action for Lundqvist since last season. Adam Huska took over for the Rangers in the second half of the game making 15 saves on 16 shots. Huska looked calm and focused. It’s not strange that both Adam Huska and Igor Shesterkin looked more comfortable in net so far as both played in the Traverse City Tournament.

Who’s fighting for a spot ?

When you look at the possible opening night roster, there aren’t really any spots up for grabs at forward. The Rangers are bringing back 10 players from last season who are basically locks for the roster.  With that in mind, add star forward Artemi Panarin and prospects Kaapo Kakko and Vitali Kravtsov. That’s 13 forwards already fighting for the starting 12 spots. The other players being used in preseason are there more to show their talent, help their development and put the starting players in different combinations. While some players I thought for sure would get a good look during the preseason have already been cut, others have at least one to two more games to show their skill before the Rangers fill out the final two games with the possible opening night roster.

The Rangers finally locked up all their restricted free agents signing defenseman Tony DeAngelo to a one year deal on Friday with an AAV of $925,000 allowing all worried fans to breathe easier.

With DeAngelo signing this took away another possible spot that was up for grabs. It’s obvious to  conclude that Jacob Trouba, Brady Skjei, Marc Staal,  DeAngelo and Adam Fox will make that opening night roster, leaving two spots available. The players I feel are fighting for those sixth and seventh d-man spots are Libor Hajek, Joey Keane, Ryan Lindgren, Yegor Rykov, Tarmo Ruenanen, Sean Day and Brendan Smith. The Rangers have an abundance of talented defensemen with only two spots to fill, making the next few games even more interesting.

Home/Editorials