After a chaotic offseason that saw coaching changes, a new captain, and plenty of speculation, New York Rangers hockey is back. The Rangers will kick off the preseason in New Jersey against the Devils, the first of six preseason games that the Blueshirts will play.
While today’s lineup won’t consist of the team’s top players, it will be a great way to get familiar with guys who will likely spend most of their time with the Hartford Wolf Pack. It will also be the first time we get to see the Rangers execute head coach Mike Sullivan’s brand of hockey. Sullivan was the biggest addition for the Rangers this offseason and will look to change the style of play that has failed in recent years. Today will be the first time we get to see how the changes behind the bench will affect the Rangers’ play.
Looks like these are the players who went to NJ for the preseason opener
F: Aspinall, Blidh, Brodzinski, Dowling, Laba, Othmann, Pärssinen, Perreault, Raddysh, Rempe, Roobroeck, Sheary
D: Borgen, Fitzgerald, Mackey, McCarthy, Morrow, Pouliot, Vaakanainen
G: Quick, Garand#NYR
While I did land on Noah Laba as the player to watch, I also considered Scott Morrow. In the end I settled on Laba after his impressive rookie camp and the Rangers’ poor center depth. At Rookie Camp, he centered a line with Brennan Othmann and Gabe Perreault on the wings. Laba joined the Wolf Pack last season after finishing his junior season at Colorado College. Laba is one of the players in tonight’s lineup who hasn’t already established himself in the league that I can see making his way onto the Rangers. It is unlikely he makes the opening night roster, but as the season goes on and he continues to develop, Laba may find himself centering one of the Rangers’ bottom six lines.
After a strong rookie camp, could the Noah Laba force his way into the Rangers' lineup?
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