Oliver Bjorkstrand came to the Rangers this summer as one of the quieter additions, but the fit was easy to understand from the start.
New York signed him on July 1 to a one-year, $4.5 million deal, bringing in a player who could deepen the offense and give the team a movable asset if the season turns sideways. For Bjorkstrand, though, the appeal was more personal than transactional.
“Just the opportunity and just the situation the team was in,” Bjorkstrand said on why he decided to sign with the Rangers. “This seemed like a good fit and a chance for me to kind of pick up my game.
I thought last year wasn't my best, so I’d like to respond to that and have a better season. Things they (the Rangers) talked about kind of intrigued me, and I think it could be a good situation.
Kind of up to me to take advantage.”
That chance started in a promising spot. All through training camp, Bjorkstrand skated on a line with J.T. Miller and Pavel Dorofeyev, and he opened the season with them in what looked like a top-six opportunity.
It didn’t last long. Bjorkstrand was soon dropped to the Rangers’ fourth line, while Tye Kartye moved into his spot beside Miller and Dorofeyev.
Even with the lineup shuffle, Bjorkstrand has still been used on the second power-play unit, where he joins Sean Durzi, Will Cuylle, Gabe Perreault, and Eeli Tolvanen as another shooting threat.
That’s the role he seems most focused on no matter where he lines up: bring offense, but do it the right way.
“Hopefully add some production on the offensive side,” Bjorkstrand said. “With that, you got to be reliable out there and play a two-way game.
We have a lot of guys who can add a high level game and get points, but in some games, you need other guys to step in and have a second, third layer. Just hoping to add to that area.”
Through four games, Bjorkstrand has one point while averaging 12:02 of ice time.
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