Rangers assign seven to AHL Hartford, have two more cuts to make before Opening Night
New York Rangers left wing Brennan Othmann celebrates a Ranger goal with teammates during the third period of a preseason NHL hockey game against the New York Islanders at UBS Arena on Saturday, Sept. 30, 2023. Credit: Kathleen Malone-Van Dyke
The Rangers are almost down to their final roster. They assigned seven players to AHL Hartford on Sunday, leaving 27 players still in training camp with two preseason games remaining. They will play Wednesday against the Devils in New Jersey and Thursday at home against the Boston Bruins.
Goaltender Dylan Garand, defensemen Matthew Robertson and Brandon Scanlin, and forwards Brett Berard, Adam Edstrom, Jake Leschyshyn and Matt Rempe were sent to Hartford. Goaltender Louis Domingue and defenseman Mac Hollowell reportedly were placed on waivers and will be assigned to Hartford on Monday if they clear waivers. That would bring the roster down to 25.
The moves leave the Rangers with two more cuts to make to get to the maximum 23-man roster limit by opening night, which is Oct. 12 in Buffalo.
The Rangers are expected to carry a roster of 22 players to bank salary-cap space in the hopes of creating flexibility and the ability to make moves at the trade deadline.
Young wingers Will Cuylle and Brennan Othmann remain on the roster for now. Both were expected to be ticketed for Hartford, but they have played well in the preseason. Each scored a goal in Saturday’s 5-3 loss to the Islanders.
“The young guys are working hard,’’ coach Peter Laviolette said after Saturday’s game. “The young guys are competing, they want to put their best foot forward, and it shows.’’
Othmann, who has two goals in the preseason, said: “A lot of my buddies obviously went to Hartford the last couple days, and I don’t know what’s going to happen over the next few days and the next couple of weeks.
“I’m really happy to be here. I’m happy to play in the three [preseason] games I’ve played, and hopefully I can try to play in one more [or] the two more left. But at the end of the day, I’m going to try to continue to make the team. I’m trying to stay here as long as I can.’’
Colin Stephenson covers the Rangers for Newsday. He has spent more than two decades covering the NHL and just about every sports team in the New York metropolitan area.
