The New York Rangers completed their second game of a shortened preseason on Tuesday night. While the Rangers sent the majority of their AHL roster to play the New Jersey Devils on Monday, their regulars played at Madison Square Garden. This was the official preview of what the roster will look like heading into their season-opener on Sep. 29 against the Boston Bruins.
For the most part, the forward group is set in stone, wit the only real competition being at fourth line winger. But, there was intrigue as to what the top six group would look like. If training camp practices showed anything, it's that the top six forward group is virtually set, and fans got their first real look in their 4-3 loss to the New York Islanders on Tuesday night.
Pavel Dorofeyev shines with J.T. Miller and Oliver Bjorkstrand
There were questions entering training cap whether or not head coach Mike Sullivan would alter the top line of Mika Zibanejad, Gabe Perreault, and Alexis Lafreniere to include Pavel Dorofeyev. The Rangers gave up premium draft assets to not only acquire Dorofeyev from the Vegas Golden Knights, but also to sign him to a seven-year, $77 million contract extension. Dorofeyev is expected to be the Rangers' top scorer, and given that, there were discussions among fans and experts about whether he would be placed on the top line.
But Sullivan did not want to break up the top line of Zibanejad, Perreault, and Lafreniere, after they built chemistry late last season. So, Dorofeyev was placed on the second line with captain J.T. Miller and fellow offseason addition Oliver Bjorkstrand. The trio showed off what they can bring on Tuesday night.
In the second period, Bjorkstrand skated behind the Islanders net to retrieve the puck and found Dorofeyev standing by himself in front of the net. Bjorkstrand passed it to Dorofeyev, who unleashed a laser of a shot past Ilya Sorokin, who couldn't react in time, to put the Rangers up 2-0.
After the game, head coach Mike Sullivan praised the Miller, Dorofeyev, and Bjorkstrand line, saying it was "their best showing to this point." Miller agreed with Sullivan's sentiment, saying that the game was their "best chemistry," also including scrimmage games.
Rangers fans should feel better about top six depth, even with Artemi Panarin and Vincent Trocheck departures
There was uncertainty about the Rangers' forward group by the end of the season, as the team traded Artemi Panarin to the Los Angeles Kings and were set to move on from Vincent Trocheck. Even with the additions of Dorofeyev and Bjorkstrand, there were questions whether or not that the group would be strong enough.
Rangers fans can take solace in knowing that the second line did look good in their first appearance in the preseason. They already showed off chemistry and the true gameplan for success, and that's to get the puck to Dorofeyev because lets face it, his shot looks impossible to stop if you are an opposing goaltender.
Plus, they'll need to bank on the top line continuing to build off of their chemistry. If Perreault takes that next step forward in his development, that will only help the Rangers push for a playoff spot in a pretty wide open competition in the Metropolitan Division (behind the Carolina Hurricanes).
There are some questions regarding the rest of the team, such as the penalty kill not doing their job and whether or not Sullivan will carry three goalies this season. But forward does not appear to be an issue for the team at the halfway point of the preseason.
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