The New York Rangers have some positive energy surrounding them so far this season, as they are 3-1-0 through their first four games. Their latest win was a 4-2 victory over the Utah Mammoth, a team that made it into the playoffs last year in the top-heavy Central Division. But during the game, the Rangers watched fourth line center Joe Veleno leave with a lower body injury. The injury appeared to be bad, considering Veleno had a difficult time getting off of the ice.
On Tuesday, the Rangers officially placed Veleno on the injured reserve, meaning he's going to be out for the foreseeable future. The question was, who were the Rangers going to call up to replace him as the fourth line center? The Rangers could have opted to go with a veteran option, such as Justin Dowling or Juuso Parssinen. Instead, the Rangers decided to give the fanbase a pleasant surprise.
The Rangers announced on Tuesday that they have called up top forward prospect Cole Beaudoin to be their fourth line center with Veleno out. Beaudoin will make his official NHL debut later that night iin the team's game against the Islanders.
Rangers surprise the NHL world by calling up top prospect Cole Beaudoin
Last season, the Hartford Wolf Pack's struggles made it evident that the Rangers needed to replenish their prospect pool. One of the newest prospects New York added was Beaudoin, who came over from the Utah Mammoth in the Vincent Trocheck trade.
Beaudoin received plenty of praise due in part to his size and athletic ability. Mammoth general manager Bill Armstrong also lauded Beaudoin's leadership skills, predicting that one day, he could be a captain for the Rangers. Oh, and he put up 88 points in 54 games for the OHL's Barrie Colts last season.
Last month, the Rangers invited Beaudoin to training camp. He always had an outside shot of making the opening night roster, especially after the team signed Eeli Tolvanen late in the offseason, so there was no real huge need for a bottom six forward. In the Rangers' 4-3 loss to the Islanders, Beaudoin scored a goal, dished out three hits, and won 5-of-12 faceoffs. Then, in the 4-3 shootout win over the New Jersey Devils, Beaudoin won five-of-nine face offs, while putting up a minus-one plus/minus rating. Ultimately, Beaudoin missed out on the cut, and was sent down to Hartford.
Beaudoin made the most of his playing time with the Wolf Pack, as he has five points through just two games played. On Oct. 3 against the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, Beaudoin scored a goal and dished out two assists in a 5-2 victory. In a follow-up performance on Oct. 4 against the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, Beaudoin recorded two assists in the 3-2 victory.
Now, Beaudoin makes his debut at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday night.
Rangers look to be more willing to give young players a shot this season than ever
When it comes to the Rangers, they have typically been a bit more patient when it comes to calling up prospects. There is the belief that throwing them into the deep end won't help out their development. Rangers fans have seen some of their supposed top prospects get a chance and not do much with it. But now, in a season where they are trying to bounce back from a last place finish in the Eastern Conference the campaign prior, it appears the Rangers are open to giving a top young prospect an opportunity.
Heading into training camp, there was a debate whether or not the Rangers would keep fifth-overall pick Alberts Smits up in the pros, or send him down to Hartford to develop. It was evident from the get-go that Smits has a fan in head coach Mike Sullivan, received the first crack at being the left side defenseman on the third pair alongside Braden Schneider, and never relinquished the role. The decision to keep him on the opening night roster panned out, as Smits is playing well and holding his own, which is incredible as a rookie defenseman.
Now, Sullivan and general manager Chris Drury are allowing Beaudoin to show what he can do with fourth line minutes for, at least, the foreseeable future. He played solidly in the preseason and showed in the AHL that he is more than worthy of a shot.
Rangers fans should keep an eye out for Beaudoin to see what he can bring to the team.
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