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Rangers Feature Young Prospects in First Preseason Game vs. Devils
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- Rangers Feature Young Prospects in First Preseason Game vs. Devils
Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images
There's a youthful bent to the New York Rangers lineup when they open up the preseason schedule Sunday against the New Jersey Devils .
Eleven of the 20 players dressing for the Rangers are age 23 or younger. That includes Matt Rempe (23), who's looking to establish himself as a regular in the Rangers lineup this season after bouncing between the NHL and minor leagues a year ago. The towering 6-foot-8 forward already has a history with the Devils, including several fights and an elbowing major against Jonas Siegenthaler on March 11, 2024 which led to a four-game suspension .
Rempe began training camp skating regularly with center Sam Carrick . But the veteran fourth-line staple is not part of the lineup Sunday. So, it's quite possible Rempe will be on a line with rugged former Devils center Justin Dowling , whom the Rangers signed as a free agent this summer.
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Also, notable are that the four best players from rookie camp are in the Rangers lineup for the preseason opener. Former first-round picks Gabe Perreault (2023) and Brennan Othmann (2021) will play, as will 21-year-old center Noah Laba and defenseman Scott Morrow . Perreault, Laba, and Othmann excelled as linemates in two rookie games last weekend against Philadelphia Flyers prospects.
Morrow was acquired from the Carolina Hurricanes this offseason in the K'Andre Miller trade, and has a good chance to land a spot on the opening-night roster.
Other notable Rangers playing Sunday are forwards Juuso Parssinen , Jonny Brodzinski , and Taylor Raddysh ; defensemen Will Borgen and Urho Vaakanainen ; and goalie Jonathan Quick . Forward Conor Sheary , who won two Stanley Cup championships under Mike Sullivan with the Pittsburgh Penguins and is in camp on a PTO, also is in the lineup.
Related: 3 takeaways from Mike Sullivan ahead of his Rangers coaching debut
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Rangers set lineup for preseason opener against Devils
Many key veterans won't play Sunday, and instead remained back at the MSG Training Center, where assistant David Quinn focused on special teams at practice. Artemi Panarin didn't skate again Sunday and remains day to day with a lower-body injury sustained Friday.
Even without Panarin, the Rangers practiced their power play. Adam Fox quarterbacked PP1, as usual, with J.T. Miller , Mike Zibanejad, Vincent Trocheck , and Alexis Lafreniere rounding out the five-man unit.
When Panarin's healthy, he'll return to the top unit. Morrow, Brodzinski, Othmann, and Perreault are among those playing Sunday, who will vie for PP2 time with the Rangers, should they make the varsity roster.
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