Nothing is official yet. But it looks like Adam Edstrom will start the year with the New York Rangers.

A 2019 sixth round pick, the 23-year-old forward had a strong training camp. Most notably, he scored a few goals while fitting in well on the fourth line. Last season, Edstrom appeared in 11 games for the Rangers, recording the first two goals of his NHL career.

A good skater for his size, the six-foot seven, 234-pound center was featured with Matt Rempe on the fourth line. They meshed well with former Blueshirt Barclay Goodrow to create an effective energy line. Now, it appears that Edstrom is ready to become a full-time player. His unique combination of size, skating, and touch should be an asset for a team that doesn’t have many skaters who bring that element. It was Edstrom who stood out most among the new young faces.

Blueshirts Make Cap Moves

On Monday, the Blueshirts made cap moves. In an effort to get an extra day of accrual, they assigned Edstrom, Will Cuylle, Brett Berard, and Victor Mancini to the Hartford Wolf Pack. The majority will be back on Wednesday for the season opener against the Pittsburgh Penguins. Only Berard is expected to remain in Hartford.

As USA Today Sports reporter Vince Mercogliano noted in a previous tweet, the Rangers placed Jimmy Vesey on long-term injured reserve (LTIR). That means he will miss at least the first 10 games of the season. In doing so, it allows them to carry 13 forwards and seven defensemen.

Ryan Lindgren was put on regular injured reserve. He will miss at least seven days and still count against the cap. After they visit Pittsburgh, the Rangers will host the Utah Hockey Club and Detroit Red Wings. Lindgren won’t play any of the the first three. He’ll become eligible for the Rangers’ fourth game when they take on the Red Wings on Oct. 17.

Mancini Will Debut on Blue Line

As he displayed throughout preseason, Mancini proved that he belongs with the Rangers. With Lindgren out, a spot opened up on the back end. It was the steady play of the 2022 fifth round pick that stood out. He outplayed veterans Ben Harpur and Connor Mackey to earn it.

Mancini will make his NHL debut on the Rangers blue line. During a recent practice, he took rushes with Zac Jones. That’s how they could line up on Wednesday, Oct. 9. If they do, the 22-year-old from Saginaw, Michigan will play on the third pair. That was a long shot when camp opened.

Chad Ruhwedel would be the extra defenseman. A role he handled well following coming over from the Penguins. He’s a solid depth player who brings experience.

Panarin Declares Himself Ready

Artemi Panarin declared himself ready. Despite the Rangers pulling him from two preseason games due to a lower-body injury, Panarin will be in the lineup for their first game against the Pens.

It’ll be interesting to see how the Rangers’ top offensive player looks. Will there be any rust? Coming off an MVP caliber season in which he set personal bests in goals (49), assists (71), points (120), power-play goals (11), and shots-on-goal (303), what can the 32-year-old Russian dynamo do for an encore?

Panarin will be in his usual spot on the left wing with line mates Vincent Trocheck and Alexis Lafreniere. They had terrific chemistry last season – carrying the offense at five-on-five. One of the league’s best scoring lines, it’s Year 2. Panarin is the straw that stirs the drink. But both Trocheck and Lafreniere are coming off career years. They’ll be the focus.

Miller on Second Power Play Unit

At practice, K’Andre Miller was on the second power play unit. It’s a role he doesn’t have a lot of experience in. One-half of the Rangers’ shutdown defensive pair, Miller usually logs a ton of shifts at even strength against opponents’ best lines. He also doubles on the penalty kill.

Now, he’s being asked by Rangers coach Peter Laviolette to man the point on the second power play. At least for now, it’ll feature Miller, Lafreniere, Filip Chytil, Reilly Smith, and Kaapo Kakko. The hope is that they’ll contribute enough to become a good option. In recent memory, the Blueshirts have relied heavily on the top unit that includes Panarin, Adam Fox, Chris Kreider, Trocheck, and Mika Zibanejad.

If Miller struggles, Jones could replace him. He’s a player with good wheels and offensive instincts.

Othmann Assigned to Hartford

As expected, Brennan Othmann was assigned to Hartford over the weekend. He played in all six exhibition games. However, he never showed enough consistency to seriously be considered.

Had he performed well, where would he have played? They brought in Smith for the first line. Kakko was brought back on a one-year deal worth $2.4 million. There wasn’t a top nine role available. At 21, Othmann is still learning. There’s still a lot of room for growth. It’s better for his development to play top line minutes with the Wolf Pack.

Is it disappointing that he’s not further along? No. Not every first round pick is ready right away. Things can always change. Much depends on how Kakko starts. However, Othmann won’t be the first player recalled. Instead, it’ll be Berard, who impressed Laviolette during camp.

Berard will be someone to follow during the season. He brings a lot of energy and can play in any role, including the penalty kill. He’s a year older than Othmann. Having experience at Providence College helped prepare him for the pro style.

Games Return on Tuesday

On Tuesday, games return. Unlike the New Jersey Devils and Buffalo Sabres, who already started their seasons with a two-game series in Prague over last weekend, the rest of the league will finally get going this week.

There will be six teams in action tomorrow. The Seattle Kraken will host the Saint Louis Blues at 4:30 EST. The Chicago Blackhawks begin their season by visiting the Utah Hockey Club at 10 EST. That should be exciting. Connor Bedard begins his second year. Utah has a promising roster full of young talent capable of reaching the playoffs.

The Boston Bruins are supposed to visit the defending champion Florida Panthers at 7 EST. However, it’s likely to be postponed due to Hurricane Milton. It’s expected to be a category 5. Please keep all the Florida residents in your thoughts.