Sean Day returned to OHL; Lines for Flyers game released

Clendening (Photo: Rangers)

The Rangers have returned defenseman Sean Day to the Mississauga Steelheads of the OHL, making him the latest cut from the training camp roster. This doesn’t come as a surprise, as Day was never making the team this year. However the surprising part is that he wasn’t a part of the first round of CHL cuts. Guessing the Rangers wanted a longer look at him before returning him to the OHL.

Also the lines for tomorrow have been released, and they are interesting, to say the least.

Jimmy Vesey-Derek Stepan-Rick Nash
Brandon Pirri-Kevin Hayes-Pavel Buchnevich
J.T. Miller-Marek Hrivik-Robin Kovacs
Tanner Glass-Maxim Lapierre-Malte Stromwall

Ryan McDonagh-Adam Clendening
Ryan Graves-Dylan McIlrath
Chris Summers-Nick Holden

Henrik Lundqvist
Mackenzie Skapski

The top two lines are again another example of Alain Vigneault seeing what he has in Vesey, Pirri, and Buchnevich. Some are looking at the Miller line as an indication that Miller is in AV’s doghouse, and I think that’s stilly. The preseason is about seeing what you have in the new guys, and it’s clear the Rangers think Buchnevich and Vesey are a part of the present and the future. Pirri is just icing on the cake. Playing Miller with Hrivik also gives the latter a chance to play with talented NHLers to see what he can do, as he’s a bubble player.

Side note: Don’t read too much into Lapierre playing again, or playing with Glass. I still think both are on the outside looking in, as they are with Stromwall, who is headed to the AHL at some point soon.

Seeing Clendening with McDonagh is an indication that AV wants to see how a true puck mover can do with McDonagh. Many were clamoring for a McDonagh-Anton Stralman pairing way back when, and perhaps the Rangers are seeing if they caught Stralman-lite with the Clendening signing.