The Rangers made two sets of cuts yesterday, placing six on waivers and sending another five to the Hartford Wolf Pack. Most of the cuts were expected, as players like Bobby Trivigno, Ryder Korczak, and others were never truly in the running for a roster spot this year. However there were a few recent Rangers cuts that start to give us some hints as to which kids are still in the running, and which might actually make the team.
Specifically, both Will Cuylle and Brennan Othmann are still around. With the most recent Rangers cuts, it looks like one of them will be breaking camp with the Rangers.
To be clear, it’s not essential that either one make the team. That “by default” player is Zac Jones, who is no longer waivers exempt. Given how reluctant Chris Drury was to place Libor Hajek on waivers, the same type of thought process means Jones will break camp with the Rangers. Unlike Hajek, Jones would get claimed.
Instead, the focus is on Alex Belzile, who was part of the players placed on waivers yesterday. Belzile appeared to be the backup 13F for the Rangers, an insurance policy against one of the kids, most likely Cuylle. With Belzile part of the recent Rangers cuts, that 13F spot is now in question. It opens a roster spot.
Assuming the Rangers don’t maximize cap space –stick tap to Hockey Stat Miner who keeps us all honest with how the Rangers can do that– by keeping just 12 forwards (7 defense is a virtual lock), then they will likely carry that 13th forward on the NHL roster. It won’t be Cuylle or Othmann, since if they make the team, it will be to play and not be in the press box.
Given Belzile was part of the recent Rangers cuts, the 13F spot is likely going to Tyler Pitlick, who has looked good in camp. That means someone projected to be on the third line (Jimmy Vesey?) will now be on the fourth line instead of Pitlick. This presumably opens a winger spot on the third line.
Aside: I know people love Jonny Brodzinski. As do I. I just don’t think the Rangers organization sees him as more than a 14F. He’s captain of the Hartford Wolf Pack, which usually means he’s not considered NHL material, at least not as a regular. The last few captains of the Pack have never made it to the big club (Steven Fogarty, Ryan Bourque, Mat Bodie, Dane Byers, etc. Happy to be wrong, since I like Brodzinski a lot.
Given how the recent Rangers cuts have unfolded, we can expect the bottom six of the Rangers to include one of Filip Chytil or Vincent Trocheck, one of Blake Wheeler, Kaapo Kakko, or Alexis Lafreniere, and one of Cuylle or Othmann on the third line. That means the fourth line will be Vesey, Nick Bonino, and Barclay Goodrow. Pitlick becomes the 13F, rotating in and out as one of the kids needs a break.
The smart money is on Cuylle breaking camp with the team, given the spots on the roster that are open. Othmann’s development might get stunted playing 8-10 minutes a night on the fourth line, and as the higher ceiling player, there’s no need to rush him. Cheap talent that can score is still the key to winning, after all.
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