With camp just in it’s fourth day, the Rangers coaching staff have made their first cuts, trimming the roster from 52 to 45. With five preseason games remaining, the Rangers will need to cut at least 21 more players before the opening day rosters are set.
Of the eight cut today, three were netminders who were not projected to be in the mix for the final roster. PTO Jeremy Brodeur, who joined the team for the Traverse City propsects tourney was let go, while the injured Brandon Halverson and former Free Agent signing Chris Nell will join Hartford early.
Possibly the two minor disappointments would be defenseman Sean Day and forward Ty Ronning. The former second rounder Day appears to be continuing his career trajectory and must now be considered a longshot without a significant performance in Hartford this year. Ronning, who fought his way to a contract in Canadian Juniors wasn’t likely to make the Rangers, but perhaps could have gotten a game to see how he did against some NHL competition.
In addition, defenseman Nico Gross was sent back to Oshawa of the OHL whole while defender Vince Pedrie and forward Dawson Leedahl go to Hartford, perhaps on their way to the ECHL and maybe the end of their respective professional tenures with the Rangers at the end of the season.