Young Rangers eyeing big roles
No more is opportunity an abstract for these new, young Rangers.
The spotlight turns to two of the most intriguing pieces on Tuesday night at the Garden, when the Blueshirts open their preseason schedule against the Islanders. Set to be in the middle of the top line is Mika Zibanejad, 23, who came over in an offseason trade with the Senators that sent former foundation piece Derick Brassard to Ottawa. On Zibanejad’s right will be Pavel Buchnevich, 21, as the Russian playmaker and the Rangers’ thirdround pick from 2013 is making his North American debut with high expectations.
“I tried not to stay nervous,” Buchnevich said through an interpreter after Monday’s practice, “but I think that [Tuesday] I won’t be able to keep it in before the game.”
The reason both players have such focus on them is because there are spots to be had up front, and there are a lot of players gunning for them. For the first time in a long time, youth is a buzz word around the Blueshirts, as was the plan for general manager Jeff Gorton when he began retooling the roster this offseason.
Both Zibanejad and Buchnevich stand as examples of that ideology, and both are trying to earn their way into big-time minutes once the regular season starts on Oct. 13.
“We made it very clear in the initial meeting we had with the group that there is opportunity,” coach Alain Vigneault said. “There is ice time and there are roles. I’m hoping there is going to be some good internal competition, and they’re going to make the decision hard for us.”
Vigneault made a good point that depth is going to be especially important for all teams this season because of the condensed schedule due to the late start caused by the World Cup of Hockey, along with the new five-day “bye week.” But both Buchnevich and Zibanejad are hoping to make an impact right away.
“I don’t think they brought me here to change my game,” Zibanejad said. “It’s just more getting better and evolving. I think that’s the biggest thing.”
It should help that skating on their left for the time being is Chris Kreider, whom Vigneault said is “is becoming a veteran player on our team.” He, too, sees the chances that lie in front of the new group of forwards trying to make an impression.
“Obviously there are opportunities,” Kreider said. “There are spots. Guys left, it’s a young group, I think there is turnover every year.”
Vigneault was effusive in his praise of what he has seen from this nascent line in practice, but as Kreider pointed out, “it’s way too early” to start thinking about regular-season groupings. Instead, the preseason games are there as individual evaluation tools, and the top line Tuesday is where the focus rightfully should be.
“I think this game might be the most exciting game I’m going to play for now,” Zibanejad said. “I think it’s one of those things where you really want to start off on the right foot and get into it and start with a good impression.”
The three Rangers who were eliminated early from the World Cup of Hockey up in Toronto — Ryan McDonagh, Derek Stepan and J.T. Miller — all returned to the practice facility on Monday and will return to full-team practices on Wednesday. They won’t play in Thursday’s preseason game, at home against the Devils.
Goalie Henrik Lundqvist was supposed to get back on Monday, and he won’t return to practice until Saturday. Vigneault said Lundqvist would like to get some good practice time before he plays in a game.
Mats Zuccarello is the lone remaining Ranger still at the World Cup, suiting up for Team Europe in the bestof-three final against Canada starting Tuesday.