The New York Rangers have plenty of things to figure out when training camp opens, but one of the more interesting battles could be for the final wing spot in their top six. Interestingly enough, two newcomers to the team happen to have a shared history together, and it adds a level of intrigue to an otherwise typical training camp clash.
With former Seattle Kraken forwards Oliver Bjorkstrand and Eeli Tolvanen both joining the team this summer after an aggressive offseason. Now, head coach Mike Sullivan will have to decide which winger fits better on the Rangers’ second line.
As of right now, the top line for the Rangers is likely going to be newly acquired Pavel Dorofeyev, Mika Zibanejad and Alexis Lafrenière. Which leaves the second line to be Gabe Perreault, J.T. Miller, and one of either Bjorkstrand or Tolvanen.
Of course, there could be a world where Sullivan decided to move Perreault to the third line and make a good young third line with Noah Laba and Will Cuylle. However, after how Perreault played last season, he deserves the chance to play on the team’s second line with Miller and one of Bjorkstrand or Tolvanen.
Bjorkstand should get first crack at the top-six role over Tolvanen
Ideally, the best fit would be Bjorkstrand. At 31 years old, he has been a reliable offensive player throughout his career and gives the Rangers another winger who can score. Unfortunately, during his time with the Tampa Bay Lightning, his offensive numbers dipped. However, if we look back to his time with the Kraken or Columbus Blue Jackets, they were good. Which is the time in his career when he played in the top six and had more offensive responsibility.
His career-high came in 2023-24 with the Kraken when he scored 20 goals and 39 assists for 59 points in 82 games. If he can emulate that season, or something close to it, it will make the Rangers’ top-six much deeper than it was in the last few seasons. Plus, adding Tolvanen to the bottom six adds another 35-40 points per season, but to an area that really struggled last season.
One of the biggest reasons why Tolvanen fits in the bottom six, aside from not being as offensive a gift as Bjorkstrand, is his physicality. He has been known to throw his weight around, with 187 hits last season with the Kraken. His career-high in huts came just a season prior with 237. If he can score 35 points and contribute 200 hits, it makes the Rangers not only a much deeper team but also more of a playoff-ready team.
As they head into the 2026-27 season, they have a lot of things to figure out. Ideally, if they can find a way to get this decision right early, it will make the coaching staff’s life much easier. And, more importantly, it may also open the door to the Rangers winning games and maybe even be fighting for a playoff spot later in the 2026-27 season. Which would be a huge step in the right direction when you think about just how bad their rebuild could have actually been.
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