Vesey Skates In Non-Contact Jersey, Wheeler Didn't Practice Saturday
Rangers winger Jimmy Vesey skated today in a non-contact jersey, notes NHL.com’s Dan Rosen (Twitter link). He has missed the last three games after suffering an upper-body injury in the second game of their series against Florida. At the time of the injury, Vesey was given a week-to-week designation so it remains unlikely that he’ll suit up for the rest of this round. However, if New York can come back and win the series, he could be an option to return at that time. Vesey had 13 goals and 13 assists in 80 games during the regular season and added three points in a dozen playoff contests before being injured.
- Still with the Rangers, winger Blake Wheeler did not take the skate this morning due to soreness, notes Arthur Staple of The Athletic (Twitter link). The veteran missed the last two months of the season after suffering a leg injury but recovered in time to be available to suit up against Florida. However, Wheeler has only played once so far in this series and since he’s still dealing with lingering soreness, it’s quite possible they’ll hold him out of the lineup if this gets to a seventh game on Monday.
Rangers Reach Affiliation Agreement With ECHL Bloomington
The Rangers have reached an affiliation agreement with the expansion Bloomington Bison of the ECHL, general manager Chris Drury announced today. It makes the second straight offseason in which the Rangers have changed ECHL affiliates.
New York has long had a steady top-level affiliation with AHL Hartford, maintaining a primary relationship with them since 1997. They’re the ones more affected by any changes in secondary affiliations. Previously, the Rangers held an ECHL affiliation agreement with the Jacksonville Icemen in the 2021-22 and 2022-23 seasons but switched affiliates with the Sabres last July and entered into an agreement with the Cincinnati Cyclones. That relationship ended up lasting just one season. The Cyclones are now without an NHL affiliate for 2024-25, although they’ll likely reach an agreement with a new club in the coming months.
Two players under contract with the Rangers – both goaltenders – spent time in the ECHL this season with Cincinnati. Their primary tandem was 2021 fourth-round pick Talyn Boyko and 2018 second-round pick Olof Lindbom, both of whom were on entry-level contracts this year. ECHL teams often play an important role in developing goalies for the NHL parent clubs, especially compared to other positions.
Boyko will likely return to the ECHL next season, now with Bloomington, while Lindbom is less likely. The Swede struggled with a .884 SV% in 29 games and is a pending restricted free agent, but he’s a strong non-tender candidate after that poor minor-league showing. 6’8″ netminder Hugo Ollas, who the Rangers drafted in the seventh round in 2020 and recently signed out of Merrimack College, is also a likely candidate for assignment to the Bison.
With the Illinois-based franchise and the Tahoe Knight Monsters both set to begin play next season, the ECHL will be comprised of 29 teams. Tahoe is the only club without an NHL/AHL affiliation.
Jacob Trouba Fined $5K For Elbowing
- The NHL Department of Player Safety has fined New York Rangers defenseman Jacob Trouba $5K for an elbow against Florida Panthers forward Evan Rodrigues in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Final (Twitter link). The fine is the maximum allowed under the CBA. Trouba was assessed a minor penalty on the hit, though many fans argued the flying-elbow should have warranted a major penalty. He’ll now be assessed a fine instead, maintaining his eligibility for what will be a crucial Game 4. The Rangers are currently up 2-1 in the ECF series, in no small part thanks to Trouba’s three points in three games, including two assists in Game 3. He’s also recorded 12 hits and 16 blocks in the series.
Jimmy Vesey Week-To-Week With Upper-Body Injury
New York Rangers winger Jimmy Vesey has been designated as week-to-week with an upper-body injury, head coach Peter Laviolette shared with Mollie Walker of the New York Post (Twitter link). Vesey took a hard hit from Florida Panthers’ forward Ryan Lomberg in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals, leaving the game after just 5:47 in ice time.
Vesey’s absence will likely make way for Kaapo Kakko to return to the lineup, after being healthy scratched in Game 2. It was the second time in the last three years that Kakko was scratched in the Eastern Conference Finals, coming after he managed just two points through New York’s first 11 playoff games. Vesey’s injury will also provide a bit more lineup security to bruiser Matt Rempe, who stepped back into the lineup for Game 2 – though the Rangers were very deliberate with his ice time. If not Rempe, then New York will likely turn to veteran Blake Wheeler, who’s been out since February with a leg injury. Wheeler posted 21 points in 54 games this season – his first year away from the Winnipeg Jets since 2010-11.
Rangers Recall 13 Players
With the Rangers seeing their AHL team eliminated in the Atlantic Division Finals earlier this week, they were free to recall some players to the big club to serve as their ‘Black Aces’ squad. After taking a few days, they’ve made their choices on who to bring up. AHL Hartford announced that the Rangers have promoted goaltender Dylan Garand, defensemen Ben Harpur, Connor Mackey, Victor Mancini, Matthew Robertson, and Brandon Scanlin, and forwards Alex Belzile, Brett Berard, Anton Blidh, Jake Leschyshyn, Brennan Othmann, Tyler Pitlick, and Adam Sykora from the Wolf Pack.
Garand was briefly up with the Rangers earlier in the playoffs when third-stringer Louis Domingue was unavailable but didn’t see any game action. The 21-year-old didn’t have a particularly strong regular season with a 3.03 GAA and a .898 SV% in 39 regular season games but was quite sharp in the playoffs, improving those numbers to 2.59 and .922 respectively in nine appearances.
Among the blueliners, only Mackey and Scanlin saw action with the Rangers during the regular season, getting into one game apiece; one of them would likely be the first from this group to get the call to play if necessary. Harpur has the most experience with 198 career appearances (including 42 with New York in 2022-23) but missed most of the season due to injury which likely takes him off the table. Mancini, meanwhile, is eligible to practice but not play as his entry-level contract doesn’t officially begin until next season.
As for the forwards, all but Belzile, Berard, and Sykora got into at least one NHL contest in 2023-24. Pitlick led the way on that front with 34 appearances but was limited to just a goal and three assists while averaging a little over 10 minutes a night. That said, he’d be the safest player to put in the lineup if necessary given his familiarity. Othmann is one of their top prospects and had a strong year in Hartford with 49 points in 67 games. While it would be riskier to put him in, his style of play fits in with the physicality of the postseason while Othmann could provide some potential offensive upside if Peter Laviolette has to shake things up.
Morning Notes: Vesey, Guentzel, Skjei
Sportsnet is reporting that New York Rangers forward Jimmy Vesey left Game 2 last night against the Florida Panthers after taking a high hit from Panthers forward Ryan Lomberg. Vesey was ruled out of the game with an upper-body injury before the start of the third period. The Boston, Massachusetts native has dressed in 11 playoff games this season, tallying a goal and two assists.
Vesey’s injury could allow forward Blake Wheeler to return to action. Wheeler skated in the pre-game last night but ultimately did not dress. The 37-year-old Wheeler has been out of action since he suffered a scary lower-body injury back on February 15th. There is no word yet on Vesey’s status as he is being evaluated.
In other morning notes:
- Despite the movement in their front office with Don Waddell’s departure, the Carolina Hurricanes are reportedly engaged in contract extension talks with trade deadline acquisition Jake Guentzel (per Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic). The forward was a seamless fit in Carolina and has expressed an interest in staying with the Hurricanes long-term. LeBrun says that the Hurricanes initiated the contract talks with the star forward but it remains to be seen if they will be able to meet his asking price which could hover around $9MM annually on a long-term contract. Guenzel has averaged 36 goals per 82 games during his career and will be in high demand should he reach the open market.
- The Hurricanes have also reportedly continued contract discussions with defenseman Brady Skjei (as per Pierre LeBrun). The 30-year-old has been with Carolina for five seasons and has been in extension talks with the Hurricanes intermittently since last summer. Skjei is coming off a career year in which he posted 13 goals and 34 assists in 80 games and has become an exceptional two-way defenseman playing alongside Brett Pesce. Skjei does a bit of everything and his offensive outburst this past season isn’t outside of the norm for him given that he had 18 goals during the 2022-23 season. He will be in high demand if he reaches free agency on July 1st.
Ryan Lindgren 'Good To Go' For Game 1
When they take on the New York Rangers tonight in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals, the Florida Panthers will have a fully healthy roster. Earlier today, Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald reported that Sam Bennett, Dmitry Kulikov, and Niko Mikkola skated at practice this morning, and the trio would be in the lineup this evening.
Unlike Bennett, there were no formal announcements of injuries for either Kulikov or Mikkola, although the latter left Florida’s bench with about three minutes remaining in Game 6 against the Bruins. With both players confirmed to be in the lineup for Game 1 tonight, a completely healthy defensive core for the Panthers should give the Rangers quite a bit of trouble in generating offense.
Rangers, Dylan Roobroeck Agree To Terms On Entry-Level Deal
The Rangers have agreed to terms on an entry-level contract with forward prospect Dylan Roobroeck, per a team announcement Monday. It’s a three-year deal for the Ontario-born big man, who will now likely suit up for AHL Hartford next season. Financial terms were not disclosed by the team but PuckPedia reports that the deal will carry an AAV of $850K, consisting of a $775K base salary and a $75K signing bonus each season.
Roobroeck, 20 in July, is one of the more unique prospects in the league. Standing at 6’7″ and 205 lbs, he went undrafted upon initially being eligible in 2022.
A move within the Ontario Hockey League from Niagara to Oshawa sparked his development, though, and he broke out for 15 goals and 53 points in 68 appearances during the 2022-23 campaign. That performance put him on some NHL teams’ radars, including the Rangers, who selected him with the 2023 sixth-round pick that they acquired from the Jets along with Andrew Copp in a deadline deal two years ago.
Roobroeck continued to improve on both sides of the puck this season, finishing second on the Generals in scoring with a career-best 26 goals and 72 points in 68 games. He added 101 PIMs and a +23 rating and played a pivotal role on an Oshawa team that advanced to the OHL championship, losing in a sweep to the champion London Knights.
His size obviously jumps off the page, but he is a decent puck handler and is a better skater than you’d expect for such a tall frame. The Rangers have the option to assign him back to Oshawa if they feel he needs an overage season, but since he’s turning 20 before the New Year, he’s eligible for a full-time assignment to the AHL.
Roobroeck’s age also makes him ineligible for an entry-level slide, so his deal will take effect next season regardless of whether he sees NHL ice. He’ll become a restricted free agent upon expiry in 2027.
His younger brother, Ryan Roobroeck, is currently on track to be a top-10 selection in the 2026 draft. Also a center, the 16-year-old Ryan already stands at 6’2″ and 185 lbs and had 28 goals and 51 points in 63 games for Niagara this year, who finished last in the OHL.
Chytil Feels He Can Play Next Round
It appears that Blake Wheeler won’t be the only Rangers forward who will be able to return from the sidelines for the Eastern Conference Final. Center Filip Chytil told reporters including Lohud’s Vince Z. Mercogliano that he wants to suit up against Florida although he stopped short of pronouncing himself at 100%. Chytil missed more than six months working back from a suspected concussion and subsequent setbacks and was able to return to the lineup for the third game last round against Carolina. However, he missed the following game due to illness (believed to be a bug going around the room, not a recurrence of concussion-like symptoms) and didn’t suit up in the final two contests. If healthy, Chytil would give New York another threat offensively but it wouldn’t be surprising to see the team be extra cautious with the 24-year-old for the rest of the playoffs.
Blake Wheeler Cleared To Return For Eastern Conference Final
Rangers veteran forward Blake Wheeler is medically cleared to play and could return to the lineup for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Final against the Panthers on Wednesday, he confirmed to ESPN’s Greg Wyshynski today.
Wheeler, 37, was activated from long-term injured reserve late last week. He hasn’t played since February 15, when he sustained an apparent right leg injury on a hit from Canadiens defenseman Jayden Struble that caused him to fall awkwardly against the boards.
The 1,172-game veteran was having a decent season in a depth role after signing a one-year, $1.1MM deal with the Rangers in free agency. Wheeler, who had spent parts of 13 seasons with the Jets/Thrashers franchise, was stripped of the captaincy in Winnipeg before the 2022-23 season and was bought out following the campaign. He had one season left at an $8.25MM cap hit at the time.
His 0.39 points per game (nine goals, 21 points in 54 contests) were the lowest of his 16-year career. He also averaged a career-low 12:43 per game, playing an expectedly reduced role with corresponding lower production. Once one of the league’s premier playmakers, Wheeler’s poor defensive impacts over the past few years were slowly drawing widespread attention, leading most to believe Rangers head coach Peter Laviolette was better off giving top-six minutes to the younger Alexis Lafrenière.
The lengthy absences of Wheeler and center Filip Chytil (concussion) directly influenced general manager Chris Drury‘s trade deadline strategy. In essence, he replaced their roles directly by acquiring two-way center Alexander Wennberg from the Kraken and mobile top-nine forward Jack Roslovic from the Blue Jackets. Roslovic has stepped into a second-line role alongside Chris Kreider and Mika Zibanejad in the postseason, producing well with two goals and seven points in 10 games.
If Wheeler returns for Game 1 at home, it would likely be in a fourth-line role at right wing, replacing minor-league veteran Jonny Brodzinski. Brodzinski, 31, has been scratched for eight of the Rangers’ 10 playoff games through two rounds and has averaged only 8:47 per game when in the lineup.