There aren’t many spots within the Rangers lineup up for grabs, however Peter Laviolette has issued a problem to the expanded group to make noise and pressure the top coach to take discover.
Amongst a prospect-heavy lineup Sunday night time in Boston, it was Victor Mancini who made an impression.
Along with scoring the group’s first purpose of the sport and helping on Filip Chytil’s go-ahead rating on the finish of the primary interval, Mancini was concerned in a number of completely different elements of the sport and made some robust defensive performs within the 3-2 win over the Bruins.
Mancini, the Rangers’ 159th-overall choose in 2022, obtained his first style {of professional} hockey final season in Hartford.
After three seasons on the College of Nebraska-Omaha, the place he totaled 4 objectives and 19 assists over 110 video games, the right-handed defenseman posted three assists in seven video games for the Wolf Pack in 2023-24.
The 22-year-old Mancini, who’s projected to obtain top-four minutes in Hartford this upcoming season, additionally contributed three assists in 10 AHL playoff video games.
Evaluating eyes have been additionally absolutely on Brennan Othmann, who’s actually somebody Laviolette’s message is focused at.
Othmann threw some huge hits Sunday night time, along with tussling with the Bruins’ Parker Wotherspoon.
“Had a great yr final yr,” Laviolette mentioned of Othmann, who had 49 factors in 67 AHL video games with the Hartford Wolf Pack final season. “Put up some factors. Comes into camp this yr and he’ll get a chance to make noise, as properly.”
With the ability set of a top-six participant, Othmann’s path to a lineup spot is obstructed resulting from a reasonably set-in-stone first two Rangers strains.
Mancini can be additional down the defensive depth chart, however his improvement has picked up within the final yr.
Chytil posted a purpose, an help and 6 pictures on purpose within the preseason opener.
The sport-winning purpose belonged to Alex Belzile, who has but to play in a sport for the Rangers regardless of signing a two-year deal in July 2023.
Again in Tarrytown, one other prospect was attempting to create his personal buzz.
The Rangers’ 134th-overall choose in 2020, Brett Berard, was positively noticeable within the Blueshirts intrasquad scrimmage Sunday.
“He’s a employee,” Laviolette mentioned of Berard, who has but to make his NHL debut. “He’s aggressive. He competes in battles and performs with numerous juice. He did have a extremely good yr offensively final yr. He turned any individual that they have been relying on. Even final yr, I assumed he had a great yr coming into coaching camp. This yr, I feel he’s seeking to make an impression.
“When he does get [into an exhibition game] he’s going to have the chance to point out what he can do, so we’ll put him in the proper conditions to try this.”
The 22-year-old Berard put up 25 objectives and 23 assists for 48 factors in 71 video games final season with the Wolf Pack. It was his first full skilled season after three at Windfall Faculty.
Solely six NHL regulars have been within the Rangers lineup Sunday: Chytil, Kaapo Kakko, Will Cuylle, Jimmy Vesey, Braden Schneider and Jonny Brodzinski.
The Rangers shall be off Monday earlier than they return to preseason motion on Tuesday at Madison Sq. Backyard towards the Islanders.