Time for Rangers to make roster decision on Vitali Kravtsov, who has looked shaky
Vitali Kravtsov, right winger for the Rangers during training camp in Tarrytown, NY on Wed. Sept. 22, 2022. Credit: Errol Anderson
GREENBURGH, N.Y. — At the start of training camp, Rangers coach Gerard Gallant said he’d use the first four preseason games to experiment with his lineup and then try to use the final two to fine-tune things in preparation for the Oct. 11 regular-season opener against Tampa Bay.
But as the Rangers get ready for their last preseason game Saturday against the Islanders at UBS Arena, there’s still some experimenting that needs to be done and a couple of roster decisions that have to be made.
So after practice Friday, Gallant was asked if he would want to get an advance look at the opening night lineup on Saturday or give some of the guys on the bubble one final chance to make a case for themselves.
“It'll be a mix, and there's different options,’’ he said. “We're still discussing it, to be honest with you.’’
At practice Thursday and Friday, Gallant changed up his forward lines. Vitali Kravtsov was dropped to what looked like a fifth line with Dryden Hunt and Julien Gauthier. It’s likely that only one of those three will make the opening night roster.
Kravtsov, the No. 9 overall draft pick in 2018, started camp on the second line with Artemi Panarin and Vincent Trocheck. He has not impressed in the preseason games, looking nervous at times. He struggled in Wednesday’s 5-4 loss to Boston, logging the least ice time (11:32) of anyone, and after the game, Gallant wasn’t shy about saying the 22-year-old Russian had not played well.
“You want to get somebody else a look in that [second line] spot,’’ Gallant said. “He wasn't going to stay with that line every game. He's had a couple looks there, and we're going to put somebody else there [Saturday], probably. [Kravtsov] might not be there, but he might be in another line.’’
With Kaapo Kakko moved up to the top line with Mika Zibanejad and Chris Kreider, Kravtsov could get a look on the third line with Alexis Lafrenière and Filip Chytil. But Gallant had Barclay Goodrow in that spot the last two days at practice, so in the final preseason game, would the coach want to see Kravtsov there, or Goodrow?
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.
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