With Buchnevich’s return, Kakko goes back to 3rd line
Pavel Buchnevich rejoined the Rangers for Tuesday’s practice session after having missed one day on the ice with an apparently minor physical issue.
The winger slid back into his slot on the right with Mika Zibanejad and Chris Kreider while Kaapo Kakko, who had filled in impressively for No. 89 during Sunday’s scrimmage, returned to his third-line role beside Filip Chytil and Phil DiGiuseppe.
That is the alignment the Blueshirts expect to present for the Aug. 1, Game 1 against Carolina if all are healthy, but essentially nothing is set in stone beyond that.
“This is the playoffs, and if things are not going well, we don’t have an awful lot of time to let people play through long, bad stretches,” David Quinn said. “So there will be maybe a little bit of a quicker trigger from our end moving people around during the course of agame.
“We’ve all touched on how well Kakko has played, but that being said, Buchie had a really good second half [of the season] and was a big piece of why we had success down the stretch. Keeping Kakko with Fil — both Fil/Phils — right now, I think that gives our lineup more depth and it’s a little more threatening if we continue to see what we’re seeing out of Kaapo.”
Henrik Lundqvist and Alex Georgiev shared one netwhile Igor Shesterkin had his own throughout practice. That likely represents a byproduct of Monday’s front office/coaching staff conversations about the goaltending position and competition.
“I’m not going to open the vault,” the coach said. “We had a nice conversation and there is clarity on everything right now, not that there wasn’t before.”
The conversations also included dialogue with the three netminders.
“We talked to all of them [about] where everything was at,” Quinn said. “All three were good.”
Libor Hajek , the team’s presumptive seventh defenseman, and K’Andre Miller, getting a head start on 2020-21, skated with the varsity throughout Tuesday’s practice. So did likely 13th/14th forward Steven Fogarty.
Miller, the 22nd-overall selection of the 2018 entry draft who played two seasons at Wisconsin, has been impressive, working often on his off, right-side, to accommodate the club’s immediate need.
“It’s a unique opportunity for him and I just think it gives him a comfort level and familiarity going into next season,” Quinn said. “It happens a lot when a kid signs late in the season after his college season and they come in and join an organization. Sometimes they’re able to play five or six games, or sometimes they’re just able to be around and it certainly lends for an easier transition when the next fall starts.
“What I really like about K’Andre’s game is how quick he’s thinking, recognizing plays, and his hockey sense.
“His physical skills are obvious to everyone, he skates really well, he’s got great size [6-foot-5] and a great reach, but I like the little area plays he’s been able to make and how quickly he’s been able to move the puck.”
Quinn said Brendan Lemieux’s two-game suspension for elbowing Joonas Donskoi in the head toward the end of the third period of the March 11 match in Colorado was not a surprise.