Captain Tuned the Noise Out
Jacob Trouba has disturbed all the headlines this summer. With rumors of the Rangers looking to move on from that contract and get a fresh voice for the leadership group, Trouba responded with a solid performance coming off an underwhelming regular season and a horrific postseason.
Two assists aren't the same as a trademark blast that beats everything on its way into the net, but both of his assists came from that monster shot being deflected or blocked. He was creating chaos in front from a distance, resulting in scoring. Seeing Trouba use that blast shows the Rangers captain looking like they need him to.
He did take a tripping penalty during this game, but he had a good game overall. It's hard to complain about anything in a win as convincing as this one. That pairing with Braden Schneider will be something to watch as the season progresses. The Rangers' defensive concerns may play themselves out.
These Kids Are Alright
Victor Mancini's NHL debut was another powerful takeaway from this game. While he had a great preseason and prospect camp, there were always concerns about whether he could translate it into NHL success. He showed tonight that he has no issues playing at the highest level. That'll be an exciting debate when Lindgren is healthy.
Adam Edstrom was another one who had a strong preseason, but he had a great game on the fourth line. He played in his role well and was not a negative on the roster. You don't need much from a fourth line, but they must be assets rather than negatives. They were that tonight. Eighty-two games of that will not hurt, especially with the pure size that line possesses when we get to the playoffs.
Alexis Lafreniere hanging a defenseman from the rafters by his jockstrap was noteworthy. Will Cuylle had a goal disallowed, Chytil got on the board, and the youth showed tonight that it could replace the current core in due time. While there's still a long way before they can take over from the current guys, strong performances across the lot show much promise moving forward.