Taylor Raddysh has done his part in Rangers camp. The problem is that the numbers may still beat him.
Matt Rempe’s strong showing in New York’s final preseason game, along with the praise he got from head coach Mike Sullivan, points toward Rempe grabbing the 12th forward spot. That leaves the last forward job - the 13th spot - as the real squeeze point, with Raddysh now trying to hold off Jaroslav Chmelař for what may be the final opening.
That battle started with Raddysh, Rempe and Chmelař all fighting for the same lane on the right wing, with Joe Veleno already locked into one-third of the fourth line. Rempe now looks like the favorite, and Raddysh becomes the next logical choice.
He’s been good in camp, and there’s no doubt he gave himself a chance. But this is one of those roster puzzles where good enough may not be enough.
The wrinkle is that all three forwards have a case for making the team, just for different reasons. Chmelař is the only one who can be sent down without waivers, which makes him the most likely first trip to Hartford.
That doesn’t necessarily mean Raddysh is safe, though. He could still make the roster and end up as a healthy scratch instead of locking down a nightly role.
New York’s roster math is making everything harder. Alberts Smits appears to have the inside track to the sixth defense spot, which leaves Scott Morrow and Matthew Robertson on the outside for the moment. The Rangers could carry Raddysh as the extra forward and keep two extra defensemen to avoid exposing either Morrow or Robertson to waivers, but another offseason move complicates that path.
Dylan Garand earned his place in camp, and in another setup he might have simply backed up Igor Shesterkin. But Joonas Korpisalo’s addition changes the equation.
New York now has to choose between carrying three goalies or risking Garand on waivers if it doesn’t want to send Korpisalo to the minors. Right now, the veteran goalie looks like the likelier one to be sent down.
Raddysh has done what he needed to do. The question now is whether the Rangers have enough room to reward him. One of Sullivan’s choices is to go without any extra forwards, and if Chris Drury sees that as the cleanest solution among Raddysh, Garand, Robertson and Morrow, then Hartford may be the safest landing spot until an injury opens something up.
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