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Rangers’ Surprise PTO Addtions Adds Excitement to Camp

By Marvin Azrak |
RIGA, LATVIA - MAY 23: Adam Clendening #5 of the United States celebrate his 0-2 goal during the 2021 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship group stage game between Canada and United States at Arena Riga on May 23, 2021 in Riga, Latvia. The United States defeated Canada 5-1. (Photo by EyesWideOpen/Getty Images)
RIGA, LATVIA - MAY 23: Adam Clendening #5 of the United States celebrate his 0-2 goal during the 2021 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship group stage game between Canada and United States at Arena Riga on May 23, 2021 in Riga, Latvia. The United States defeated Canada 5-1. (Photo by EyesWideOpen/Getty Images)

Meet the New York Rangers’ Newest Players: Goaltender Brad Arvanitis and defenseman Adam Clendening. What do they bring to the ice?

During his pre-training camp press conference, Chris Drury said, “We’ve got faith in the players we’ve already got on board.” “With 48 contracts out of a maximum of 50, we want our signed players to strut their stuff at camp without needing extra tryouts.” Well, it seems like they had a change of heart because we’ve got some fresh faces!

A Boost in the Crease:

First, the Rangers have brought on goaltender Brad Arvanitis on a PTO. Hailing from Holliston, MA, Brad spent the last season bouncing around the ECHL with the Rapid City Rush, Tulsa Oilers, Wichita Thunder, and even had a stint with the Pensacola Ice Flyers of the Southern Professional Hockey League (SPHL). Interestingly, he’s already locked in for the 2023-24 season with the Maine Mariners of the ECHL, so consider this a little extra insurance in the crease.

Brad had a decent run last season with the Ice Flyers, boasting a .919 save percentage (SV%) and a 2.71 goals-against average (GAA) in 20 games. He also tasted the ECHL with the Rush, Oilers, and Thunder.

Adding Defensive Depth:

Now, let’s talk defense. The Blueshirts have also inked defenseman Adam Clendening to a PTO. Hailing from Niagara Falls, NY, Adam had a busy 2022-23 season, splitting his time between the AHL’s Hartford Wolf Pack and Rockford IceHogs, putting up a solid 33 points (4G-29A) in 68 games.

Clendening had a previous stint with the Rangers in 2016-2017. He contributed two goals and eleven points in 31 games, making him the 6th highest-scoring defenseman based on total points. Clendening also had a brief tenure with the Hartford Wolf Pack last season, adding a goal and nine points in 20 games.

Clendening last saw NHL ice time in 2018-19. For now, he’s likely to step into Zac Jones’ shoes in Hartford and vie for that eighth defenseman spot, possibly against Ben Harpur. Clendening’s signing appears similar to Riley Nash’s; he is not precisely angling for an NHL spot but provides valuable depth for the organization.

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