Battling to the end
Ex-Minnesota star Lettieri in fight to make Rangers roster
It is indisputable that when camp began, Vinni Lettieri was an afterthought — if a thought at all — when it came to assessing candidates for spots up front on the Rangers’ opening roster.
Except, that is, in the mind of Lettieri, the 22-year-old whom the Blueshirts signed last March as a free agent out of the University of Minnesota.
“I came into camp with the intention of winning a job,” Lettieri, who has played his way into legitimate contention, told The Post on Saturday. “I never have set a low bar for myself. “The sky is the limit for me.” Lettieri, who is expected to be in the lineup for the third time when the Blueshirts face the Flyers in Monday’s exhibition match at the Garden, has displayed en- ergy and an impressive battlelevel in addition to skating and skill attributes.
“I’ve always tried to get myself into the battle,” said Lettieri, a grandson of Minnesota North Stars legend Lou Nanne. “I move my feet, support guys, and look to create space for myself where I can get off a shot.
“I look to shoot from anywhere, even areas of the ice where goalies might not be expecting shots.”
The Rangers could opt to open the season with 14 forwards (not including the injured Jesper Fast) and seven defensemen.
The roster theoretically then could include both teenaged firstround centers, Lias Andersson and Filip Chytil, and both Lettieri and Matt Puempel.
Under this scenario, center Boo Nieves and walk-on Bobby Farnham would be left out upfront with either Neal Pionk or Anthony DeAngelo (and Ryan Graves) missing the opening cut on the blue line.
“I don’t attempt to evaluate myself against other players,” said Lettieri, who scored the Blueshirts’ lone goal in Friday’s 2-1 loss to the Islanders in Bridgeport, Conn. “I only measure myself against my own capabilities and expecta- tions, and from that standpoint, I feel better with each day.
“It’s definitely been a benefit for me to be here and watch the NHL guys’ practice habits and their game preparation. Everyone is here for a reason. I’ve been learning the system and picking things up every day.”
Lettieri is a right-handed shot who played both on the wing and in the middle for the Gophers.
He increased his production every season, recording 19 goals and 37 points as a senior after seven goals, 19 assists for 26 points during his junior year.
Undrafted, he signed with the Rangers in late March before joining the AHL Wolf Pack for nine games.
“Going to Hartford helped me prepare for this camp,” said Lettieri, who had one assist for the Wolf Pack. “There’s a lot of great talent in the AHL, so the chance to slide in there was a great experience for me.”
Lettieri is still pressing his nose up against the window.
But with only two games remaining in the preseason, he is still very much in the mix.
“All I can control is my attitude and work ethic and that’s what I’m focused [on]. I’m here to do my best,” Lettieri said. “My goal coming here was to be a Ranger. That has not changed.”
Sean Day was assigned to the AHL on Friday, but it is still possible that the Rangers could decide to send the 19-year-old defenseman back to OHL Windsor, where he won the Memorial Cup last season.
If the 2016 third-rounder does in fact return to the OHL, his three-year entry-level contract would slide for another season.