Rangers' Erik Gustafsson likely to return for Wednesday's game against Devils
Rangers defenseman Erik Gustafsson sets before a face off against the Toronto Maple Leafs in the third period of an NHL hockey game at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday, Dec. 12, 2023. Credit: Kathleen Malone-Van Dyke
GREENBURGH — The time is drawing near, as Peter Laviolette acknowledged, for emotionless and bottom-line decision-making.
Who is in? Who is out? Who is playing well? Who is not?
Such is life for a team with legitimate Stanley Cup aspirations.
The first such decision is likely to be when to reinsert Erik Gustafsson into the Rangers' lineup at the expense of Zac Jones.
Based on what took place during the half-hour practice on Tuesday it is likely Gustafsson will dress for Wednesday’s match against the Devils although none of the particulars would tip their hands.
“We’ve got a lot of good defensemen here,” Laviolette said following practice at the MSG Training Center, in which Gustafsson was paired with his usual defense partner, Braden Schneider, while Jones rotated in.
“We have great depth for the playoffs,” Laviolette said. “There’s [going] to be tough decisions no matter what.”
Gustafsson, who has 30 points in 70 games, missed the Rangers’ last four games after he suffered an upper-body injury in the 4-3 shootout win over Florida at the Garden March 23. He was elbowed in the side of the face by the Panthers’ Sam Reinhart as both fell to the ice in overtime and did not return.
As for Jones, he likely will return to being the team's seventh defenseman. He entered the lineup when Jacob Trouba was injured on March 4 and remained in the lineup in Gustafsson's spot when Trouba returned two games ago.
While Trouba was out, Jones averaged 16:22 of ice time and tallied four points (one goal and three assists). The Rangers went 10-3-0 in that stretch.
“It’s been good to get my confidence going,” Jones said. “Just getting the playing time has been good. This time of year, games get tighter. Obviously tougher to score goals. Got to be harder defensively, but it’s been good for me. I’ve been happy with the way I’ve been playing.”
Jones has compiled two goals and seven assists for nine points in 30 games.
“Zac’s played really well,” Laviolette said. “That’s a good thing.”
Still, with Gustafsson returning, the defense corps will be whole for the first time since the trade deadline.
Whereas the bottom-six forwards are something of a rotating cast. Jonny Brodzinski skated on the third line with Alex Wennberg and Kaapo Kakko, while Matt Rempe, Barclay Goodrow and Jimmy Vesey comprised the fourth line. Like Jones, rookie Will Cuylle rotated in during drills.
“Let me just say with any player I think there’s always peaks and valleys inside of the season,” Laviolette said. “I think with a young player there’s no difference. Will has been a really good player for us.”
Rempe skating on the fourth line at Tuesday's practice likely means he'll return to the lineup Wednesday after being scratched for three games. Fans at the Garden chanted "We want Rempe" in the third period of Monday's loss to the Penguins.
Notes & quotes: Defenseman Brandon Scanlin was assigned to AHL Hartford after practice ... The Rangers announced the signings of University of Nebraska-Omaha junior defenseman Victor Mancini and Finnish forward Kalle Vaisanen. The 21-year-old Mancini agreed to a two-year, entry-level contract following a season in which he recorded four goals and six assists in 40 games. Vaisanen, also 21, had nine goals and five assists in 58 games for TPS Turku of Liiga, Finland’s top league.
