Last season, Noah Laba proved that a strong training camp will be rewarded.
asserted
camp → prove → ?
The same rule still applies as multiple Rangers rookies prepare for the first on-ice session of the 2026-27 preseason Thursday.
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tRY IT NOWOf the 16 would-be rookies
asserted
rookies → apply → IT
, however, only two stand out as having the most legitimate chances before even stepping on the ice.
asserted
two → stand → ice
The backup job behind star netminder Igor Shesterkin is up for grabs after it was vacated by the since-retired Jonathan Quick.
asserted
it → vacate → Quick
Garand will go toe-to-toe with veteran goaltender Joonas Korpisalo for the role, which the 24-year-old started making a case for last season with a 2-0-1 record through his first three NHL games.
asserted
old → go → games
Korpisalo was still brought in from Boston this summer — for Kalle Vaisanen and a 2028 fourth-round draft pick — to ignite some internal competition.
“I think [Garand] showed us late in the season last year that he’s very capable of making saves in this league,” head coach Mike Sullivan said.
asserted
Sullivan → bring → league
“That, in and of itself, just his overall growth and development, has given us a little bit more legitimate depth at the goaltending position.
asserted
growth → give → position
Korpy is a guy that I think is a bona fide NHL goalie that’s had success and has a body of work in this league that shows that he can be an effective goaltender, especially at the backup position.
asserted
he → think → position
“He’s done an admirable job in the places that he’s been.
asserted
he → do → places
He’s done an admirable job in the places he’s beenWe feel like that position right now is competitive.
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position → do → places
I think ultimately as an organization the ultimate goal is to have fierce internal competition, healthy competition at all the positions.”
asserted
goal → think → positions
As for Smits, Sullivan noted that the 18-year-old’s history of playing in international men’s leagues has paved the way to his current position.
asserted
history → note → position
Despite acknowledging that Smits has a chance to make the Opening Night roster out of training camp, Sullivan also showed the organization’s caution.
asserted
Sullivan → acknowledge → caution
President and general manager Chris Drury also has publicly stated the Rangers’ wish to do what’s best for his development.
asserted
what → state → development
Since the Rangers drafted him fifth overall in June, there appeared to be some distaste for the narrative of Smits being the most NHL-ready defenseman in the 2026 class and how it could affect him.
uncertain
it → draft → him
“We’re impressed with his game,” Sullivan said.
asserted
Sullivan → impress → game
“I think the most important thing is, and we have talked about this internally, is that in the big picture, the sooner that Smits becomes part of our roster the better.
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Smits → think → roster
But we also have to make sure that we do the right thing for him, both in the short term and in the long term.
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we → have → term
“We’ll see where it goes.
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it → see → ?
We’re going to watch him in training camp with our veteran players, and his play will tell us where we think he fits and what’s best for him.”
asserted
what → go → him
Sullivan noted that Pavel Dorofeyev can skate on both the right and left wings.
asserted
Dorofeyev → note → wings
As for where the 25-year-old Russian will start the season, Sullivan said there will be some experimenting.
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Sullivan → start → season
“I think a lot of it’s going to come down to what we think is the best fit based on the combinations that we put together,” Sullivan said.
asserted
Sullivan → think → that
“We’re going to explore different options to figure out how we can create the balance that we think is necessary to win consistently, but also to set players up for success.
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we → go → success
Him included.
asserted
Him → include → ?
I would anticipate probably seeing him on both sides throughout the course of the next couple of weeks.”
asserted
I → anticipate → weeks
The new CBA that kicked in Wednesday notably reduces the maximum contract term to seven years for players re-signing with their current team (down from eight years) and six years for external free agent signings.
asserted
that → kick → signings
Multiple teams locked down young talent to the maximum term late Tuesday night, such as the Capitals and Ryan Leonard (eight years, $84 million), the Sabres and Noah Ostlund (eight years, $52.8 million) and the Senators and Drake Batherson (eight years, $86 million).
asserted
teams → lock → Capitals
Asked if there was any inclination to approach, say, Gabe Perreault, or any other of their youngsters for a maximum contract, Drury declined to reveal his stance on the matter.
asserted
Drury → ask → matter
“As you all know, I’m not going to get into contract negotiations publicly,” he said.
asserted
he → know → negotiations
“All or any conversations I have with players or agents, keep that private.
asserted
I → have → that
We’re happy with where we’re at.
asserted
we → ’re → where
We’re happy with where our roster is at.
asserted
roster → ’re → where
We’re happy with our cap projections going into this year and in the future.
asserted
We → ’re → future
We’re excited to see Gabe and other young players continue to grow, take on more responsibility, earn more responsibility here and have good productive years for us.”
asserted
Gabe → ’re → us
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