Jim Cerny goes solo this week on Rink Rap to break down the New York Rangers’ training camp picture with opening night just weeks away. With only four preseason games this year, tough roster decisions are coming fast — and Cerny explains why Rangers fans shouldn’t panic if prospects like Liam Greentree, Albert Schmidt, or Adam Sykora don’t crack the opening night roster.
Using Noah Laba’s 2024 breakout as the blueprint, Jim walks through how waiver exemptions and one-year “placeholder” veteran deals (Oliver Bjorkstrand, Joey Velleno) give the Rangers room to develop prospects the right way instead of rushing them. He also digs into Matt Rempe’s path back after an injury-shortened season, the battle for the final bottom-six spot, and closes with a look at the fan chatter around building toward a possible Connor McDavid free agency pursuit in 2028.
Subscribe for Rangers coverage 365 days a year, only on Forever Blueshirts.
TIMESTAMPS
0:00 Intro — Michael Del Zotto teaser
3:00 Banff trip + a throwback Calgary story from Jim’s Islanders days
13:45 Training camp overview: 4 preseason games, Sept 29 opener
14:20 Why it’s OK if Greentree, Bodwin, or Schmidt miss the opening roster
15:00 The Noah Laba blueprint
19:00 Fewer preseason games = tougher decisions this year
22:00 Oliver Bjorkstrand as a veteran placeholder
27:30 Matt Rempe’s fourth-line case and waiver status
38:30 Battle for the last bottom-six spot: Sykora, Tychonick, Rempe
41:00 Albert Schmidt and the case for patience
46:15 Should the Rangers “tread water” for Connor McDavid in 2028?
52:00 What a McDavid contract could actually cost in 2028
#NewYorkRangers #NYRangers #RinkRap #NHL #ForeverBlueshirts
Keep up with New York Rangers news: https://www.foreverblueshirts.com
Follow Forever Blueshirts!
Facebook: Forever Blueshirts
Twitter: @4everblueshirts
Instagram: @Forever_Blueshirts