The Rangers got down to the 23-man limit Friday by waiving Jayson Megna and Raphael Diaz. That meant that, at least for now, Dylan McIlrath made the team as the seventh d-man while Emerson Etem sticks around as well. Tanner Glass' situation remains somewhat up in the air, as he is dealing with a leg injury. But even if he stays as a healthy scratch, New York has enough cap space to make him a healthy scratch, though doing so leaves the team with little to no wiggle room.
The Rangers have made some modifications to their lines, as also seen Friday and late in the preseason. JT Miller has been moved off the second line, replaced by Kevin Hayes, who shifts from center. The third line now is actually one that should be fairly solid with Viktor Stalberg and Miller centered by Oscar Lindberg, the Lars-Erik Sjoberg winner for best Rangers rookie in camp. The fourth line is revamped as well, with Dominic Moore moving to wing, allowing Jarret Stoll to remain at center and Jesper Fast on the other wing. That trio should be solid defensively and with Stoll/Moore, fairly good between the dots, a major concern in the past. Having Lindberg to take draws might turn a weakness into a mild strength.
Nash-Brassard-Zuccarello; Kreider-Stepan-Hayes; Stalberg-Lindberg-Miller; Moore-Stoll-Fast Extra: Etem
The blueline is the same as ended last season. Dan Boyle may have a very short leash. Sitting $4.5 mil in salary is not optimal, but if he plays to start the year as he did much of last season and in the pre-season, AV might not have much of a choice. McIlrath will get the first shot to replace him with Brady Skjei, impressive this preseason, next in line. Though, if it's early in the year and he sticks around at Hartford, Diaz could be an option. Having McIlrath as the seventh d-man gives AV options, as he could give Dan Girardi and Marc Staal, each of whom had offseason surgery, an early breather so that they don't wear down as they did last season.
McDonagh-Girardi; Staal-Boyle; Yandle-Klein Extra: McIlrath
Henrik Lundqvist looks to be in regular season form. We will have to wait and see on Antti Raanta, who beat out Magnus Hellberg to be the backup goalie. Raanta will see most of his time in back-to-backs along with a handful of other games sprinkled throughout the season.
The 82-game marathon kicks off Wednesday. My season predictions will be up Tuesday evening or Wednesday AM.