Updated at 12 noon:
The nine players the Rangers reassigned to get down to 34 players are:
Conor Allen, Mat Bodie, Chris Bourque, Ryan Bourque, Tommy Hughes, Danny Kristo, Jason Missiaen, Nick Tarnasky, and Petr Zamorsky.
Allen is a mild surprise, but since NY is looking for a seventh defensemen and he would benefit from full time play in Hartford, it makes sense to send him down. The rest came as no surprise and interesting that they did not go down to 30 players.
Left in camp are:
Centers
Brassard, Hayes, Lindberg, Lombardi, Miller, Moore, Mueller, Stepan
Right Wings
Fast, Haggerty, Nash, St. Louis, Potulny, Stempniak, Zuccarello
Left Wings
Duclair, Glass, Hagelin, Hrivik, Kreider, Malone
Right Defense
Girardi, Kampfer, Klein, Kostka, Staal
Left Defense
Boyle, Hunwick, McDonagh, McIlrath, Moore
Goalies
Desjardins, Lundqvist, Talbot
The Rangers lost 4-2 to Philly on the back end of the back-to-back Tuesday. The end result in general matters little since it is the pre-season, but what was paramount was the evaluation of several on the roster bubble with the Rangers slated to get down to six forward lines, 10 or so defensemen and the two goalies.
In terms of the competition, this was the lineup yesterday:
Forwards: Chris Mueller, Danny Kristo, Ryan Bourque, Oscar Lindberg, Carl Hagelin, Anthony Duclair, Lee Stempniak, Ryan Haggerty, Dominic Moore, Marek Hrivik, Kevin Hayes, Nick Tarnasky
Defensemen: Mat Bodie, John Moore, Michael Kostka, Conor Allen, Matt Hunwick, Kevin Klein
Goalies: Cam Talbot, Jason Missiaen
Larry Brooks wrote this morning that none of Hayes, Mueller or Lindberg have stepped up enough at center to assume a second line role, meaning that Dominic Moore is likely to slide up the pivot ladder. Derick Brassard is now the #1 with Derek Stepan out and J.T. Miller looks to be in place to get a third line role. However, Brooks added that Miller was careless with and deficient away from the puck Monday, and after the gains he made the first week of camp, he regressed Monday, making his hold on that spot a bit more tenuous.
Brooks adds that Matthew Lombardi, sidelined with a groin injury, could factor in the mix, if he is able to play Friday against New Jersey and/or Saturday versus Chicago. If Lombardi is healthy enough to play and shows that he can fill a center spot, he would seem to be a presumptive favorite to play anywhere from the second to fourth line. That could move Miller to wing or slide him down the pivotman order, with a week left to the pre-season.
The one still opening eyes is Anthony Duclair. Duclair scored again yesterday, and despite his lack of size and youth, has opened eyes up and down the organization and possibly the NHL. On Duclair, see this nugget from Elliotte Friedman, which all but indicates that unless Duclair falls totally on his face the next week, he will be in the Opening Night lineup:
The New York Rangers are at the maximum 50 contracts, with Anthony Duclair making a push for the roster. Because of his age (19) and when he signed (Jan. 2, 2014), his entry-level contact will not “slide” this season. So, he will burn the first year of that three-year deal in 2014-15 whether or not he plays in the NHL. Can’t pin down who, but there is no doubt the Rangers are trying to move at least one body so there is room if necessary.
New York took Duclair with its third third-round pick (80th overall) in 2013. There were teams who shied away, wondering why Colorado — picking 63rd — did not take him, since he played for Patrick Roy with the Quebec Remparts. Whatever the reason, the Rangers’ decision looks intelligent.
Nick and Myboystepan put together their remaining forwards and cuts in the comments yesterday:
Nick:
Kreider Brass Zuke
Nash Miller St. Louis
Hagelin Hayes Duke
Glass Moore Stempniak
Fast Mueller Haggerty
Myboystepan
Projected cuts:
Bodie, C. Bourque, Desjardins, Hrivik, Hughes, Kristo, Lindberg, McIlrath, Missiaen, Potulny, Tarnasky, Zamorsky
Centers
Brassard, Hayes, Lombardi, Miller, Moore, Mueller
Right Wings
Fast, Haggerty, Nash, St. Louis, Stempniak, Zuccarello
Left Wings
R. Bourque, Duclair, Glass, Hagelin, Kreider, Malone
Right Defense
Girardi, Kampfer, Klein, Kostka, Staal
Left Defense
Allen, Boyle, Hunwick, McDonagh, Moore
Goalies
Lundqvist, Talbot
This is mine, based on last night's game (only tweak is keeping Kristo and sending Haggerty down) and to be updated when news is given:
Projected cuts:
Bodie, C. Bourque, Desjardins, Haggerty, Hrivik, Hughes, Lindberg, McIlrath, Missiaen, Potulny, Tarnasky, Zamorsky
Centers
Brassard, Hayes, Lombardi, Miller, Moore, Mueller (excludes Stepan)
Right Wings
Fast, Kristo, Nash, St. Louis, Stempniak, Zuccarello
Left Wings
R. Bourque, Duclair, Glass, Hagelin, Kreider, Malone
Right Defense
Girardi, Kampfer, Klein, Kostka, Staal
Left Defense
Allen, Boyle, Hunwick, McDonagh, Moore
Goalies
Lundqvist, Talbot
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