BACK TO THE DAY JOB
Three veteran Rangers return from World Cup
These Rangers are slowly becoming more whole, and those remaining pieces rejoining the team at training camp couldn’t be more eager to return.
Three of the five Rangers who participated in the World Cup of Hockey in Toronto came back to practice Wednesday, starting with captain Ryan McDonagh and alternate captain Derek Stepan, both of whom were on the disappointing Team USA. Also joining them back in New York was J.T. Miller, who got into one game that counted and two exhibition games for Team North America, comprised of Americans and Canadians 23 or younger.
“I can tell you, speaking from me, Mac and J.T.’s standpoint, we’re ready to get back at it right away,” Stepan said. “We wanted to be back.”
The three players still have to do their on-ice testing, which they are scheduled to do Thursday while missing the second preseason game, at the Garden against the Devils. Yet all three were thankful they came through the World Cup healthy, and said they enjoyed their experience.
“For me, I liked the timing of it this year as opposed to the middle of the season, like Sochi [Olympics] was,” McDonagh said. “You have to really prepare your training to hopefully be peaking at that time. I felt really good on the ice, personally, and to make it through it healthy was a big thing, too. But I felt strong on the ice, felt I was skating well, felt quick and good with the puck. So from that aspect, it gives me some confidence joining the team again.”
Because Miller was a healthy scratch so often in the World Cup, he was still trying to get his legs under him and get into the flow of training camp.
“I went up there and felt good,” Miller said, “but being the extra guy, not getting into three or four games, I’m trying to get back into it now.”
Miller said he knew of the competition that is brewing up front during this camp, with a couple new faces fighting for roster spots and ice time.
“I’m fully aware of that, and it seems that it happens every year,” Miller said. “This year it’s a little more extreme. It’s competitive and you’re going to have to bring your ‘A’ game. This is one of the first years I feel prepared and know what to expect. I feel really ready.”
Coach Alain Vigneault said McDonagh and Stepan likely will play two of the final four preseason games, and Miller will play three of four. Vigneault added it’s likely all three will play in the preseason finale on Oct. 6 against the Flyers before the regular-season opener against the Islanders on Oct. 13 at the Garden.
“You’re not quite sure where players are going to be after an event like that,” Vigneault said. “But I think the two Americans feel they have something to prove and I think the young gun [Miller] that didn’t get a chance to play that much thinks that he has something to prove also. So I think that puts us in a pretty good spot.”
Goalie Henrik Lundqvist, who played for Team Sweden before they were eliminated in the semifinals, is expected to return to practice Saturday. The lone remaining Ranger still participating is Mats Zuccarello, whose Team Europe is down 1-0 in the best-of-three finals against Canada.