Rangers reveal 2024-25 training camp roster, including 63 players
Though it still feels like summer here in New York, it’s actually hockey season. The New York Rangers officially open training camp Wednesday with physicals and testing, and hit the ice for the first time Thursday.
The Rangers are bringing 63 players to camp — 36 forwards, 21 defensemen and six goalies. However, the truth of the matter is that there are very few openings on the NHL roster. Assuming the Rangers carry 22 players to begin the season, it’d appear 11 of the 13 forward spots, six of the seven defensemen and both goalie spots are already filled.
Part of the reason for that rests with the fact that the Rangers are coming off a 55-win Presidents’ Trophy season. So, no reason for a roster makeover, especially with so many core players locked into longer-term contracts.
Then there’s a fact that general manager Chris Drury had so little wiggle room under the salary cap this summer. He placed veteran forward Barclay Goodrow on waivers to create some financial flexibility, but failed to trade captain Jacob Trouba and his $8 million cap hit the next two seasons.
Forwards Reilly Smith and Sam Carrick are two new additions to the Rangers roster. Veterans Adam Erne, a forward, and Madison Bowey, a defensemen, are attending camp on PTOs.
Among those no longer with the organization are Goodrow, defenseman Erik Gustafsson and forwards Alex Wennberg, Blake Wheeler and Jack Roslovic.
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Rangers have few battles for roster spots at this training camp
Brennan Othmann – photo courtesy of Hartford Wolf Pack
This is a big camp — operative word here is “big” — for super-sized forwards Matt Rempe (6-foot-8) and Adam Edstrom (6-foot-7). Those giants could very well be battling it out for the final spot or two among forwards, along with Jonny Brodzinski.
Rempe is the favorite to land a role on the fourth line. But he’ll be pushed by Edstrom, who played well in 11 games with the Rangers last season and scored three goals in two rookies games against the Philadelphia Flyers this past weekend.
On defense, Zac Jones has a clear path for the open spot on the third pairing. Veteran Chad Ruhwedel will have to hold off Ben Harpur, Connor Mackey, Matthew Robertson and others to be the extra defenseman on the opening-night roster.
It’ll be interesting to see how long a look rookie forward Brennan Othmann gets in camp. The 21-year-old scored 21 goals with Hartford in the American Hockey League last season and could get some chances on the top line with Mika Zibanejad and Chris Kreider in the preseason.
Othmann likely needs to blow Rangers management and coaches away to land a roster spot out of camp — the safe bet is that Reilly Smith start out as RW1 — but the 2021 first-rounder is one to keep an eye on.
Rangers coach Peter Laviolette meets with the media Wednesday and Forever Blueshirts will have complete coverage of his press availability.
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