The New York Rangers are shaking things up by experimenting with Adam Edström at center. This is a bold move, considering Edström hasn't played center since his U20 days in Sweden. So, why is coach Mike Sullivan rolling the dice here?
Sullivan explained, “We wanted to see what it might look like if Eddy had the capability of playing in the middle. A guy that’s 6-7 playing center, especially in a fourth-line role, can be a real force with his size, mobility, and reach.”
Edström, now anchoring the fourth line with Taylor Raddysh and Jaroslav Chmelař, brings a towering 6-foot-8 presence to the middle. For a player of his stature, the transition seems to be going smoothly, thanks in part to his strong two-way game.
“It’s been good,” Edström shared. “I’ve been relying on my skating.
The defensive side of my game is strong, and I like that as a center, you get the puck lower and can build speed. I’ve enjoyed it so far.”
However, faceoffs are where Edström faces a learning curve. Before his recent NHL stint at center, he was 2-for-7 in faceoffs. In his first game against the Minnesota Wild, he managed to win just 1-of-4 faceoffs, followed by 1-of-3 in the next game.
Sullivan admitted he’s been cautious, keeping Edström’s line off the ice for defensive-zone draws, but he’s optimistic about the experiment. “It’s a small sample size, but in the defensive zone, his size and reach make him hard to play against. That’s what we hoped for when trying him there.”
Edström's journey hasn't been without setbacks. Last season, just as he was finding his footing, a lower-body injury ended his rookie campaign. Another injury in December sidelined him for over two months this season.
“You never want to go through injuries, but I’ve had my share,” Edström noted. “I’m doing everything I can to stay healthy and play hockey.”
Since returning from long-term injured reserve, Edström has been given more opportunities. He even had a stint in the top-six, playing alongside Will Cuylle and Vincent Trocheck against the Winnipeg Jets, where he scored a goal and logged significant ice time.
Now, Edström’s role at center could be a stepping stone for his future with the Rangers. “The coaches have shown a lot of confidence in me, letting me grow into this role. Playing top-six minutes was amazing, and now centering my own line with Raddy and Jaro, we can be that heavy line to play against and create chaos.”
The Rangers’ focus on developing younger players is working in Edström’s favor, providing him the chance to evolve into a key player for the team’s future.