New Rangers Defenseman Speaks About His Former Team and More
In speaking with Magnus Nyström of Expressen, Fredrik Claesson reflected on his time in Ottawa, signing with the Blueshirts and more.
As has been well publicized around the NHL, the Ottawa Senators had some locker room issues this past season. Now that he is with the Rangers, Claesson opened up about the effects it had on the Senators locker room. “It touched everyone on the team. It was very unpleasant.” When asked further about the setting in Ottawa, “It was a very weird season. I’ve never been [involved in] anything like that.”
Shifting gears to New York, Claesson said that coming to the Rangers was not a very hard decision. “I think everyone in the league wants to play in New York sometime. I have been there many times, but it will be different to live there. It’s sick.” Claesson went on to say that he is excited to join the Rangers. “The team feels exciting with new coaches and several new players, so everyone starts at zero in training camp, it’s good for me. Then there are several Swedes there, and I and Mika Zibanejad have played together in Djurgården.” Finally, the 25-year-old Swede expressed his excitement about calling MSG his new home. “It’s a cool feeling to play there, it’s like playing at a big theater. So to have it like home, it feels very fun.”
Claesson’s spot in David Quinn’s lineup is not guaranteed with the Rangers already having a solid foundation on their blue line. With Brady Skjei, Marc Staal, and Kevin Shattenkirk already locked in on the Rangers back-end, the Rangers have three spots for a handful of players including Neal Pionk, John Gilmour, Brendan Smith, Anthony DeAngelo, Libor Hajek, Steven Kampfer, and more. If Claesson can prove himself in training camp, he would be a nice piece in David Quinn’s arsenal.
Editor’s Note: All quotes from Expressen translated with Google Translate and Interglot. To read the original article, click here.
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