The NHL announced the exhibition game schedule along with the times of the first several games of the play-in round. Updates on Kappo Kakko, K'Andre Miller and Libor Hajek from camp. Artemi Panarin earns the nomination as a finalist for the Ted Lindsay Award.
Upcoming Rangers schedule. August 1 and 3: 12pm. August 4: 8pm, prime time.
The @NYRangers swept the season series in 2019-20, but will last year's playoff experience help propel the @Canes past their Metropolitan Division rivals? #StanleyCup#NHLStats: https://t.co/z8kyiktYH3 pic.twitter.com/QaSZmP9NQE
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) July 14, 2020
Exhibition schedule for July 28-30, hello Rangers-Isles on July 29 at 8pm. Overall league schedule for first round, game times only through August 5. Get a big cup off coffee, unplug the phone, find a comfortable place on the couch or room to pace and settle in for 15 hours of hockey:
The NHL’s Qualifying Round schedule 👇
— Jackie Spiegel (@jackiespiegel93) July 14, 2020
Who’s ready for hockey all day?🙋…â™€ï¸ pic.twitter.com/hAZUz78m60
Coach David Quinn post-practice:
"I've liked what I’ve seen the last two days - loved our energy physically, loved our enthusiasm mentally. You've got to kick them off the ice here after practice, so there’s a lot of good things going on right now. We're going in the right direction."
— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) July 14, 2020
- Coach Quinn pic.twitter.com/TjJGDqSpm4
Vince Mercogliano had a good updates from practice Tuesday:
A few quick highlights from the below column:
Kappo Kakko won a 1-on-1, 50-50 puck battle with Julien Gauthier, who has just a wee bit of a size advantage. One small play in many plays, but a positive nonetheless. Kakko has sood out the first two days. Also, one major key, which might be viewed by some as a throw away line by Mercogliano in his column but resonated with me: "During the four-month coronavirus pause, Quinn maintained contact with last year's No. 2 overall pick." That maintenance of contact, making sure he stayed in touch, having the players aware of his interest and getting them ready for the second season could pay huge dividends. A lot depends on his health and if he is cleared by the league, but a healthy and ready Kakko could be the X-factor for New York against Carolina.
"I think Kakko has a little bit more jump in his step," Quinn said Tuesday. "He’s smiling a little bit more. I think he's really looking forward to getting the season going again — and we're going to need him if we're going to reach our ultimate goal."Quinn added that Kakko sounded "recharged" and "more comfortable" than he did during his first 66 NHL games. He considers the restart "the start of his second season."
K'Andre Miller and Libor Hà¡jek were added as the seventh and eighth defensemen for Phase 3 and were paired in practice Tuesday. Miller won't be part of Phase 4, but if an injury occurs, Hajek - who started the season in New York before getting demoted - could be next in line. Getting him ready and restoring his confidence is a huge key for Gord Murphy, who worked with Hajek at Hartford, and Quinn. Plus, the experience will be very beneficial to both blueliners.
"They didn’t jump out at me one way or another," Quinn said. "They didn’t look out of place, I do know that — and I’m not surprised by that. It was good to get them out there."
Lots more #NYR takeaways from Day 2 of camp, including:
— Vince Z. Mercogliano (@vzmercogliano) July 14, 2020
- Kaapo Kakko having a "jump in his step"
- A look inside Chris Kreider's rehab
- K'Andre Miller's first appearance w/ the regulars
- Where DQ stands on Libor Hajek being his primary depth on D
👇https://t.co/CiNAyfibyO
As noted Tuesday AM, Artemi Panarin was voted in by his peers as a finalist alongside Leon Draisaitl and Nathan MacKinnon for the Ted Lindsay Award, formerly known as the Lester Pearson Award. Panarin might end up as. finalist for the Hart Trophy, announced on July 21. The Pearson is determined by the NHLPA, so this sometimes has a bit more weight for players because the voting is by players. Panarin was third in the league in points and led the league in 5x5 points, each of which played a big part in his selection.
That's our guy. pic.twitter.com/dNHsofZISp
— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) July 14, 2020
Panarin had a few good quotes in the press conference:
Panarin on his journey to becoming an elite player:
— Vince Z. Mercogliano (@vzmercogliano) July 14, 2020
"I would like to thank all the GMs for not choosing me in the draft because it allowed me to choose the team where I wanted to play, that played my style of hockey and allowed me to be successful to begin with."
😂#NYR
Panarin @ Ted Lindsay finalist presser said it would be very important for him to participate in the Olympics in 2022 & 2026. And with a grin attributed part of his success in NY to reading less press and social media, which let him “ concentrate on his craft.…
— Leslie Treff (@HFNYRangers) July 14, 2020