There aren’t many spots within the Rangers lineup up for grabs, however Peter Laviolette has issued a problem to the expanded group to make noise and pressure the pinnacle coach to take discover.
Amongst a prospect-heavy lineup Sunday evening in Boston, it was Victor Mancini who made an impression.
Along with scoring the group’s first objective of the sport and helping on Filip Chytil’s go-ahead rating on the finish of the primary interval, Mancini was concerned in a number of totally different elements of the sport and made some sturdy defensive performs within the 3-2 win over the Bruins.
Mancini, the Rangers’ 159th-overall choose in 2022, acquired his first style {of professional} hockey final season in Hartford.
After three seasons on the College of Nebraska-Omaha, the place he totaled 4 objectives and 19 assists over 110 video games, the right-handed defenseman posted three assists in seven video games for the Wolf Pack in 2023-24.
The 22-year-old Mancini, who’s projected to obtain top-four minutes in Hartford this upcoming season, additionally contributed three assists in 10 AHL playoff video games.
Evaluating eyes have been additionally absolutely on Brennan Othmann, who’s definitely somebody Laviolette’s message is focused at.
Othmann threw some massive hits Sunday evening, along with tussling with the Bruins’ Parker Wotherspoon.
“Had a superb yr final yr,” Laviolette mentioned of Othmann, who had 49 factors in 67 AHL video games with the Hartford Wolf Pack final season. “Put up some factors. Comes into camp this yr and he’ll get a possibility to make noise, as effectively.”
With the ability set of a top-six participant, Othmann’s path to a lineup spot is obstructed as a result of a reasonably set-in-stone first two Rangers traces.
Mancini can also be additional down the defensive depth chart, however his growth has picked up within the final yr.
Chytil posted a objective, an help and 6 pictures on objective within the preseason opener.
The sport-winning objective belonged to Alex Belzile, who has but to play in a recreation for the Rangers regardless of signing a two-year deal in July 2023.
Again in Tarrytown, one other prospect was attempting to create his personal buzz.
The Rangers’ 134th-overall choose in 2020, Brett Berard, was positively noticeable within the Blueshirts intrasquad scrimmage Sunday.
“He’s a employee,” Laviolette mentioned of Berard, who has but to make his NHL debut. “He’s aggressive. He competes in battles and performs with quite a lot of juice. He did have a very good yr offensively final yr. He turned anyone that they have been relying on. Even final yr, I believed he had a superb yr coming into coaching camp. This yr, I feel he’s trying to make an impression.
“When he does get [into an exhibition game] he’s going to have the chance to indicate what he can do, so we’ll put him in the correct conditions to do this.”
The 22-year-old Berard put up 25 objectives and 23 assists for 48 factors in 71 video games final season with the Wolf Pack. It was his first full skilled season after three at Windfall School.
Solely six NHL regulars have been within the Rangers lineup Sunday: Chytil, Kaapo Kakko, Will Cuylle, Jimmy Vesey, Braden Schneider and Jonny Brodzinski.
The Rangers shall be off Monday earlier than they return to preseason motion on Tuesday at Madison Sq. Backyard towards the Islanders.