Rangers training camp: What to look for
Vincent Trocheck of the Hurricanes disputes a call during the third period of Game 3 of the first round of the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Bruins at TD Garden on May 6 in Boston. Credit: Getty Images/Maddie Meyer
Chemistry experiment
Ryan Strome had beautiful chemistry with Artemi Panarin, but the Rangers let Strome leave as a free agent in the summer, choosing instead to sign Vincent Trocheck to a seven-year, $39.375 million free agent deal. Trocheck and Strome were born on the same day (July 11, 1993), both had 21 goals last season and their career numbers are similar. But will Trocheck be able to create the same kind of chemistry with Panarin that Strome had?
Will the No. 1 pick be all right (wing)?
Rangers left wing Alexis Lafrenière chases the puck during the first period of an NHL game against the Capitals at Madison Square Garden. Credit: AP/John Minchillo
Alexis Lafrenière had an up-and-down beginning in his second NHL season under new coach Gerard Gallant, but the No. 1 pick overall in 2020 pulled it together and blossomed in 2021-22, scoring 19 goals in 79 games and emerging as a force in the playoffs, when he had two goals and seven assists in 20 games, as part of the dynamic Kid Line, with Filip Chytil and Kaapo Kakko. The Rangers are counting on Lafrenière to be one of their top six forwards, but to do so, he’ll have to move from his natural left wing position to the right. How quickly will he become comfortable on his off-wing?
Will No. 6 be the sixth defenseman?
Zac Jones of the Rangers skates during the third period against the Islanders at Nassau Coliseum on May 1, 2021. Credit: Jim McIsaac
Zac Jones worked hard over the summer to add 10 pounds of much-needed muscle to his small frame. And, given the choice to attend rookie camp or not, he opted to come in a week early and get a few practices and a couple of rookie scrimmages in to get him ready for when the main training camp begins. Jones is probably at the top of the group of in-house candidates to fill the role of the sixth defenseman. And he wears jersey No. 6. Will that be a good omen for him?
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.
