The Rangers released their official 2020-21 Training Camp roster. Before everyone goes crazy that Vitali Kravtsov is not on the list, remember that the team announced that Kravtsov would finish his KHL season before potentially coming to the US. This is why he is not on the cap roster.
Presenting your 2020-21 #NYR training camp roster. pic.twitter.com/YNPxAwU44s
— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) December 31, 2020
New York Rangers' training camp roster: #NYR pic.twitter.com/xNyUMB6TE1
— Rick Carpiniello (@RickCarpiniello) December 31, 2020
Camp opens January 3 with games starting January 14. If you aren't in shape now, you are in a whole heap of trouble, because it's not like you will have time to get your conditioning up to speed in those 11 days. In fact, you will be on the outside looking in and either on the taxi squad or sent to the minors if you are out of shape.
Coming into camp, I am looking forward to seeing several players, who have legitimate shots at a roster spot. Up front, Morgan Barron, Patrick Khoderenko, Justin Richards and Austin Rueschhoff all have a realistic chance at breaking camp, with Barron potentially having the best odds. Colin Blackwell and Kevin Rooney, two veterans, also might be bottom-six options, with Rooney ahead of Blackwell in terms of pecking order.
On the blue line, Libor Hajek has a more than realistic chance to line up opposite Jacob Trouba to open the season, as he did last year. But the two I really want to see are K'Andre Miller and Tarmo Reunanen, as I believe Matthew Robertson is a bit further away. Reunanen, to me, has the better chance to earn a roster spot by virtue of his experience to date, including playing overseas. Darren Raddysh might be a taxi squad player, because he is a right-handed shot, though pecking order wise, he is below Miller and Reunanen.
Between the pipes. Keith Kinkaid should be the third goal. Huska and Wall might hang around on the taxi squad, though each should be in Hartford when the season opens February 5. Kinkaid might get a handful of games to make him eligible for the expansion draft next season, though there are no "easy" games this year due to the divisional set up.
Wishing all a Happy, and most important, Healthy New Year. Thanks to all who read - and especially commented - in this past, crazy year. Hoping 2021 is a heck of a lot better for all of us.