On one of my trips to Madison Square Garden, it was hard not to notice Adam Edstrom on the ice. A big standing out in a good way, his powerful strides towards loose pucks in a low stakes preseason game caught everyone’s eye. That kind of effort in a meaningless game does not go unnoticed. Neither did his impressive reach and surprisingly solid puck handling, despite his size.

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Adam Edstrom has defied the odds, starting as a sixth-round draft pick in 2019 and becoming the only rookie to play in every game for the Blueshirts to kick off the 2024-25 season. His junior coaches saw his potential early on—his towering frame, a 6-foot-7 wingspan, and his rare combination of speed and power on the ice.

Before he was drafted, European scout Patric Kjellberg spotted Edstrom’s talent while he was with Mora IK. Kjellberg tracked him as he moved to Rögle, and he began pushing Edstrom’s case, showing video clips to former Rangers European scouting director Nick Bobrov and later to GM Jeff Gorton.

Despite his low offensive stats, Edström was on the Rangers’ radar for the later rounds, and they took him with the 161st pick. The Rangers saw his physical strengths as a foundation for a bottom-six role and encouraged him to keep developing in that direction.

Adam Edstrom capitalized on an opening during training camp when Jimmy Vesey went down with a lower-body injury. Already a strong contender for a roster spot, he stepped up in Vesey’s absence—who ended up on LTIR for the first ten games. Edstrom ultimately won a place on the fourth line alongside center Sam Carrick, leaving Matt Rempe and Jonny Brodzinski to vie for right-wing minutes. When Vesey returned, it wasn’t surprising that Edstrom kept his spot, while Rempe was sent to the minors.

Since then, Edstrom has proven to be not only a physical presence but one of the Rangers’ most dependable defensive forwards, adding to a dynamic fourth line that’s played a big role in the team’s early success.

Of course, his place isn’t set in stone. Brodzinski has the experience, and Laviolette rates him highly. Rempe is also pushing from the minors. But for now, Adam Edstrom has earned a steady role in the Rangers lineup, and he’s making the most of it.