Update: #NYR acquired forward Joey Crabb from Florida in exchange for defenseman Steven Kampfer and forward Andrew Yogan. That trade gets New York to 50 contracts, enabling Duclair to break camp with the team.
The Rangers "finalized" their roster Monday. Given the abundant rumors and tweets that came out, there were no major shockers. However, not everything is set in stone, which is why the word finalized in in quotes, since New York still has 51 players under contract and need to get to 50 or below for the lineup to be completed.
I projected my lineup yesterday (http://www.hockeybuzz.com/blog/Jan-Levine/AV-I-Think-Weve-Got-issues-in-the-Middle-Right-Now-Roster-Projections/89/62803), which came fairly close to who still remains. Jesper Fast and Chris Mueller appear to be on the final roster. Anthony Duclair, as reported broadly yesterday, looks like he will make the team, but New York still needs to clear a contract. I had projected Kevin Hayes to go down and Oscar Lindberd to stick, but looks to not be the case, as Hayes remains by Lindberg, along with Marek Hrivik, Ryan Haggerty and Dylan McIlrath were sent down. (Update - 12:30PM - Chris Mueller has been placed on waivers. I kind of hope he would stick around as he deserved to make the team. However, AV said that if Mueller clears waivers, he may not go to Hartford, so he could remain with the squad. This likely means that Martin St. Louis remains at center, which is where he played in practice Monday. Also, if Mueller is claimed, it reduces the Rangers to 50 contracts, allowing Duclair to remain on the roser)
Hayes may be sticking around due to his "shoulder tweak," which could land him on the injured reserve and why he makes still be around. Plus, that would enable the Rangers to reduce their glut of forwards. In addition, with Hayes banged up and not skating Monday, Mueller and Fast remain around, so one could be the odd-man out (updated - Mueller is now the odd-man out after he was waived). The same can also be said for Duclair, given the number of contracts issue, though does not to be an impediment, as the team has been steadfast in their view that a contract can be moved if need be. In addition, Ryan Malone made the next round of cuts and the longer he hangs around, the better chance he makes the team. Though, one could also argue that the longer he sticks, the less likely he gets claimed on waivers, which could be the team's strategy. Hrivik and Lindberg likely will be back up sometime this year, especially if they carry forward their preseason play to the minors. The same can be said for Haggerty, who was very strong early on in camp.
Here who is still around, updated at 12:30 to remove Mueller:
Forwards (15): Rick Nash, Martin St. Louis, Anthony Duclair, Derick Brassard, Mats Zuccarello, Chris Kreider, Carl Hagelin, Dominic Moore, Tanner Glass, Lee Stempniak, J.T. Miller, Jesper Fast, Kevin Hayes, Ryan Malone and Derek Stepan.
Defensemen (7): Dan Girardi, Ryan McDonagh, Marc Staal, Dan Boyle, John Moore, Kevin Klein and Matt Hunwick
Goalies (2): Henrik Lundqvist, Cam Talbot
Forwards broken down by position, thanks to MyBoyStepan:
LW Kreider Hagelin Duclair Glass Malone
C Stepan Brassard Miller Moore Hayes
RW St. Louis Nash Zuccarello Stempniak Fast
Per Andrew Gross, this are the lines in Monday's practice, caveated that Hayes is out due to his shoulder. If think the below portends for future, then Mueller and Malone could stick as extra forwards, Hayes could land on IR and as seen below, Derek Stepan to LTIR.
Hagelin-Brass-Zuccarello, Kreider-St. Louis-Nash, Duclair-Miller-Stempniak, Glass-DMoore-Fast
Derek Stepan is headed to Long Term Injured Reserve, freeing up a roster spot and enabling New York to use his $3.05 million salary on extra forwards, meaning Ryan Malone and possibly Kevin Hayes. Based on that move, his non-displaced fractured fibula is not healing quicker than expected, meaning he will not be back on the smaller end of the initial 4-to-6 week timeframe established. In addition, I would love to see LTIR treated like the 60-day disabled list in baseball. There if on the 60-day DL, you aren't on the 40-man roster. In hockey, make it that the contract does not count against the 50 a team can have. With NY, that would a tremendous benefit and wonder if that gets raised in the next CBA.