The New York Rangers made three moves to trim their roster on Saturday. They assigned forwards Brennan Othmann and Ryder Korzcak to the Hartford Wolf Pack, their AHL affiliate. Additionally, defenseman Connor Mackey was placed on waivers, likely to be assigned to Hartford if/when he clears Sunday.
The Othmann move could mean that the Rangers are confident Artemi Panarin will play in the regular-season opener Wednesday against the Pittsburgh Penguins. Othmann skated in Panarin’s place on a line with Vincent Trocheck and Alexis Lafreniere in a 5-2 loss to the Islanders on Friday because Panarin is dealing with a lower-body injury.
Panarin was hurt Tuesday, when he departed in the first period of a 5-4 preseason win against the New Jersey Devils. The star forward, who had an NHL career-high 120 points last season, did skate Friday. The Rangers did not practice Saturday.
Othmann got a long look in training camp, playing all six preseason games; he tied for the team lead with three assists, and tied fourth in points with four.
However, this move makes sense. New York’s lineup was mostly set before camp even began. And the Rangers know that the 21-year-old forward is better-served playing top-line minutes in Hartford than he would be in a bottom-six role, or as a healthy scratch, in New York. So, if Panarin is healthy, it makes sense that Othmann heads to Hartford, where he scored 21 goals last season.
Othmann did get two significant opportunities to play with top-level NHL talent during the preseason. In the Rangers first game against the Islanders, he played on a line with Panarin and Filip Chytil. In their second meeting, he played with Trocheck and Lafreniere. He failed to record a point in either of those contests.
Of course, there is no need to rush Othmann into a full-time NHL role. He was second on Hartford in scoring last season with 49 points, and should have another big year in the AHL. Expect him to be one of the first call-ups, should the Rangers need to bring a forward up from the minors.
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Victor Mancini, Brett Berard remain on Rangers roster for now
Mackey was in a fight with Victor Mancini, Matthew Robertson and Chad Ruhwedel for the a spot in the Rangers top six on defense and/or as the 7th defenseman. An opening was created after Ryan Lindgren sustained an upper-body injury. Lindgren is expected to miss a few weeks of action.
The 28-year-old defenseman made a good impression in camp. Mackey had one goal, one assist and two fights in the preseason, but will return to Hartford as long as he clears waivers. He had two goals and nine assists in 44 games last season with Hartford, and played one game with the Rangers.
Korzcak was a long shot to make New York’s roster, and did not play in any preseason games due to an upper-body injury. He will be another key piece to the Wolf Pack’s lineup. The 22-year-old had nine goals and 20 points in 67 games last season with Hartford.
One interesting thing to keep an eye on is that Brett Berard remains on New York’s roster. The 2020 fifth-round pick recorded two assists in the preseason, but has outlasted Othmann to this point in camp. Berard drew praise from coach Peter Laviolette earlier this week, and has played up and down the lineup in both a top-six and bottom-six role.
The 22-year-old led Hartford with 25 goals last season.
The Rangers currently have 15 forwards on their roster — 14, if you take into account that Jimmy Vesey is out with a lower-body injury. It is likely that at least one more forward will have to be sent down to Hartford. Depending on what Laviolette wants to do with his fourth line, it should come down to Berard, Adam Edstrom, and Jonny Brodzinski for the final roster spot or two.
Mancini has opened eyes in the preseason with two goals and an assist, and solid overall play. The 22-year-old is a right-shot defenseman, but there are several ways he could be in the opening-night roster. He could play on the left side, something Mancini said he’s comfortable with, or stay on the right with Braden Schneider switching to the left, which he did Friday against the Islanders for a bit.
