The Rangers have made their first training camp cuts, announcing (Twitter link) that the following players were sent back to their respective junior teams:
F Sam Alfano (Erie, OHL)
F Maxim Barbashev (Moncton, QMJHL)
F Jayden Grubbe (Red Deer, QHL)
F Bryce McConnell-Barker (Soo, OHL)
Barbashev, Grubbe, and McConnell-Barker are all unsigned prospects and will look to have big seasons at the junior level to help them try to earn an entry-level deal; Grubbe has until June 1st to sign if the Rangers want to retain his rights. Alfano, meanwhile, was in camp on an ATO and has been released. With two of the three CHL leagues already starting their regular seasons, other teams may soon be following suit with some of their junior players.
More from the Metropolitan:
- Still with the Rangers, forward Barclay Goodrow is expected to join the team at practice tomorrow, relays Arthur Staple of The Athletic (Twitter link). The veteran is working his way back from an ankle injury and has been skating away from the team, including today, in an effort to make sure the injury has fully healed before participating in team exercises. Goodrow is coming off a career year that saw him put up 33 points in 79 games last season, his first with New York.
- The Penguins announced (Twitter link) that center Jeff Carter left today’s scrimmage early and is being evaluated for an upper-body injury. The 37-year-old had a strong performance last season with 45 points in 76 games while posting his best point-per-game rate since 2017-18 and losing him for any extended period would certainly be an early blow for Pittsburgh.