The New York Rangers are with no key defender as Ryan Lindgren has an upper-body harm. Now, dependable ahead Jimmy Vesey is anticipated to miss a number of weeks with a lower-body harm. The winger is coming off a robust season on the underside six so he will likely be missed however the harm additionally creates a chance for Jonny Brodzinski and Adam Edstrom.
What Jonny Brodzinski Brings to the Rangers
Brodzinski is coming into his fifth season with the Rangers’ group although he spent most of his first three seasons with them enjoying for the Hartford Wolf Pack of the American Hockey League (AHL.) He was dominant within the AHL however struggled within the NHL and was held to a few objectives and two assists in 44 video games over his first three seasons with the Blueshirts.
Final season, Brodzinski continued his glorious play with the Wolf Pack and had 11 objectives and 14 assists in 16 video games. Rangers’ forwards Filip Chytil and Kaapo Kakko each missed prolonged time with accidents final season, and Brodzinski obtained one other shot within the NHL.
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Brodzinski is a quick skater and he was in a position to shortly get in on the forecheck. In contrast to in previous seasons, he additionally contributed offensively in a bottom-six function. In his first seven video games, he had 5 assists and scored on a slap shot in a 4-1 win over the Los Angeles Kings on Dec. 10. He spent a while enjoying middle however was primarily used as a winger. He completed the common season with six objectives and 13 assists in 57 video games and earned a two-season, one-way contract extension.
Whereas Brodzinski brings NHL expertise and pace to the lineup, he isn’t a really bodily participant and had simply 34 hits final season. Nonetheless, neither is Vesey and he has confirmed to be a beneficial fourth liner. The Rangers are anticipated to have a few bodily fourth liners within the lineup in Matt Rempe and Sam Carrick and the hope is Brodzinski might add some scoring to the fourth line.
Brodzinski ought to be capable to present the Rangers dependable play with and with out the puck. Within the offensive zone, he has a powerful wrist shot and has a shoot-first mentality which might help create rebounds for his linemates. He is probably not flashy however he did a pleasant job when he obtained his likelihood to remain within the lineup final season.
What Adam Edstrom Brings to the Rangers
The Rangers drafted Edstrom within the sixth spherical of the 2019 NHL Entry Draft and he spent the following 4 seasons enjoying within the Swedish Hockey League (SHL.) He had 9 objectives and 10 assists in 42 video games for Rogle BK in 2022-23.
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Final season, Edstrom started the season enjoying with Wolf Pack and performed properly defensively whereas additionally displaying he was able to contributing offensively. He had 11 objectives and 5 assists in 40 video games whereas enjoying with physicality and grit.
The Rangers referred to as Edstrom up and he scored his first NHL objective in his first sport, a 5-1 victory over the Anaheim Geese on Dec. 15. He went again to the Wolf Pack however obtained one other shot with the Blueshirts in February. He seemed comfy enjoying within the NHL, utilizing his 6-foot-7 body to his benefit and making a distinction on the forecheck. He completed the season with two objectives, 30 hits, and simply two penalty minutes in 11 video games.
Edstrom was dependable defensively with the Rangers and he has the instruments to turn out to be an excellent penalty killer. Whereas Rempe made a reputation for himself with massive hits final season, Edstrom was quietly very efficient too, and he stayed out of the penalty field. The Swedish ahead is able to enjoying middle, although he performed winger for the Rangers final season. He present give the staff sturdy defensive play, however he additionally drives to the web and might chip in offensively.
The Rangers’ Determination
Edstrom is 23 years outdated and appears to have extra upside than Brodzinski, who’s 31. Nonetheless, the veteran is signed to a one-way deal whereas Edstrom is signed to an entry-level contract and could possibly be despatched to the Wolf Pack. Each gamers must be able to giving the Rangers regular play on the fourth line and this can be a massive alternative for each of them to show they belong within the lineup.
