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Three things to watch for in tonights Rangers vs Islanders preseason game

By Conor Power

TAMPA, FLORIDA - JUNE 07: Igor Shesterkin #31 of the New York Rangers dives on the puck to make a save against the Tampa Bay Lightning during the first period in Game Four of the Eastern Conference Final of the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Amalie Arena on June 07, 2022 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
TAMPA, FLORIDA - JUNE 07: Igor Shesterkin #31 of the New York Rangers dives on the puck to make a save against the Tampa Bay Lightning during the first period in Game Four of the Eastern Conference Final of the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Amalie Arena on June 07, 2022 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /
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NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MAY 03: Kaapo Kakko #24 of the New York Rangers celebrates his goal at 4:35 of the second period against the Washington Capitals at Madison Square Garden on May 03, 2021, in New York City. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MAY 03: Kaapo Kakko #24 of the New York Rangers celebrates his goal at 4:35 of the second period against the Washington Capitals at Madison Square Garden on May 03, 2021, in New York City. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /

The 4 Right Wingers

Coming into the season, everyone knows that the Rangers’ big issue is their right wing. With both spots on the right-hand side of the top six open, this preseason is going to be a big one for finding out what the Rangers have in terms of their top six. Is it up for the job given the competition the Rangers are going to have in the Eastern Conference? Is it going to be enough to help them win the Stanley Cup?

I’m going to be watching two players in particular for these roles and they are Kaapo Kakko and Vitali Kravtsov. No disrespect to Brennan Othmann or Ryan Reaves but Kakko and Kravtsov are the two players tonight with realistic hopes of filling the empty spots on the roster in the top six. This isn’t to say it isn’t possible for someone like Othmann, but likely it is someone more established.

Kakko is going to be interesting because everyone knows how good he is and how good he can be. His issue is putting it all together for long enough to start to take major strides. He is going to get a chance tonight in front of every hockey mind in New York to show that he deserves this chance and he can grab the spot and truly make it his own to help both him personally and the New York Rangers roster.

Kravtsov is going to be interesting for similar reasons. Due to his previous schisms with the Rangers management regarding his deployment and ice time, how he plays with a real chance to take a top-six role on one of the best teams in the NHL is going to be an interesting situation. Kravtsov has a chance not many people get so he has a chance to become an NHL top-six player after sulking last season.

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