In the aftermath of an unsettling end to their four-game road trip, the Rangers are both injecting new blood into their lineup and shaking it up.
Brett Berard is set to make his NHL debut Monday night against the Blues, after receiving his first official call-up to the big league since the Blueshirts drafted him 134th overall out of the U.S. National Development Team Program in 2020.
The 22-year-old turned out just to be the start, with the Rangers sending for Matt Rempe on Monday, as well, in order to alter all but one of their units.
These slew of changes appeared to be both a want and a need.
The Rangers also said Chris Kreider would not play due to an upper-body injury.
“Both factored into it,” head coach Peter Laviolette said after morning skate in Tarrytown. “A couple guys not in the lineup [Monday]. That created a need. [Berard] was one of the last guys to leave camp, we like the way he plays the game. See how he does [Monday], he gets an opportunity to play some minutes. We feel like it could be a good fit for him. He does bring certain things.
“He’s in your face, even the battles in the corners and the front of the net. He plays a fast style, he gets in there. He’s determined.”
Filip Chytil, cleared of a concussion by specialists in New York last week, continued to practice with the Rangers on Monday morning, as he did in both Calgary and Edmonton.
Since the Czech center is still not ready to play, however, Kaapo Kakko is getting an official shot in the middle.
The 23-year-old Finn lined up between Adam Edstrom and Reilly Smith, which effectively bumped Jonny Brodzinski from the lineup
Brodzinski had centered Kakko and Will Cuylle in the previous four games in wake of Chytil’s injury.
“A little different,” Kakko told The Post of the switch before the Oilers game, reflecting on the brief stretch he played center in Calgary. “It’s been awhile, maybe last time in Finland I played center. It’s something new. I think it was kind of nice. I feel good about it.”
While the Artemi Panarin-Vincent Trocheck-Alexis Lafreniere line remained intact, Cuylle was bumped up to play alongside Berard and Mika Zibanejad.
After Zibanejad finished minus-four for the third time this season in Edmonton, the Swede finds himself between two youngsters who have both been playing particularly well in their respective seasons.
Cuylle’s seven five-on-five goals lead the Rangers entering Monday’s contest, which is a notable statistic that doesn’t even capture how effective his all-around game has been.
It has led to a bit of an expanded role under Laviolette, who has entrusted the 22-year-old with more and more shorthanded ice time in particular.
This type of shakeup would have to be endorsed by the Rangers hierarchy, who have reportedly put the rest of the NHL on notice that they are open to making moves.
There has been growing disappointment with the Blueshirts, and the organization has made its first act of change.
Calling upon the kids could just be the first step.