Players will report to Trainining Camp tomorrow, with 66 players invited to this year’s edition. Head Coach Gerard Gallant and his team will have their hands full, with such a big roster, though that is likely to get trimmed quickly as players are sent down to the Wolf Pack, or back to their minor league/european club teams.
With Nils Lundkvist traded yesterday, the Rangers will go into camp with all 48 of their contracted players in attendance. In addition, Jayden Grubbe, Maxim Barbashev, Bryce McConnell-Barker and Taylor Boyko will start camp before heading back to their respective teams in Canadian Juniors. As has been the trend in recent years, players contracted with the Hartford Wolf Pack have also been invited, a contingent that numbers a healthy 11 players this year.
Veterans Jimmy Vesey and Matt Bartkowksi are in on Professional Tryouts, while 18 year old Sam Alfano remains with the team after having attended rookie camp over the past week.
Players are expected to be on the ice beginning Thursday, with the first preseason game scheduled next Monday night against the New York Islanders. There will likely be some roster cuts before that point, with Gallant likely to get down to a near final roster for the final two games on October 5th and 8th.