brady skjei

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The Rangers have released the lines for tonight’s preseason finale against the Flyers:

Chris Kreider-Mika Zibanejad-Pavel Buchnevich
Jimmy Vesey-Kevin Hayes-Nathan Gerbe
J.T. Miller-Josh Jooris-Brandon Pirri
Michael Grabner-Boo Nieves-Jesper Fast

Marc Staal-Nick Holden
Brady Skjei-Dan Girardi
Adam Clendening-Kevin Klein

I find it interesting that Tanner Glass isn’t in the lineup, which has me a bit concerned. But perhaps it’s because Alain Vigneault wants to get one look at Boo Nieves before he is sent to Hartford.

It’s good to see Jooris back in the lineup after the groin injury. He is criminally underrated as a defensive forward, and someone the Rangers could really use on the fourth line.

I really dislike the Skjei-Girardi pairing because Skjei has been struggling and Girardi likely isn’t the best one to help him out of that funk. But then again, you can’t but Girardi with Staal (train wreck) or with Clendening (potential defensive tire fire). Skjei might be able to keep Girardi afloat, but not the way Ryan McDonagh can.

I’m expecting one forward (not including Nieves and Gabriel Fontaine) to be cut. Oscar Lindberg will go on IR, so that trims the forwards from 18 to 14. Maybe one defenseman gets cut too, depending on the results of the game and the cap situation.

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