NEW YORK — With two preseason games remaining for the New York Rangers, head coach Alain Vigneault said now is generally the time the roster is thinned out, and the remaining players are the ones who will make the team.
But ahead of the Rangers game Monday night at Madison Square Garden against the Philadelphia Flyers, the Rangers training camp group still consisted of 21 forwards and 10 defensemen, a nod to a competition Vigneaut said hasn't finished playing itself out yet. But the head coach was ready to reveal one piece to New York's lineup puzzle.
Forward J.T. Miller, who began training camp by being moved to center, will begin the regular season on the wing, Vigneault said.
"A lot of guys are making it very hard for us as far as decision-making," Vigneault said. "With J.T., his versatility, he can play left, right, in the middle, it’s such a bonus for a team. We wanted to give him a little bit more experience by starting him off [at center], but right now in my mind with the performance of a few of our guys down the middle, (David) Desharnais coming in, in my estimation is playing well, J.T. is going to start on wing."
A few guys down the middle includes two teenage rookies, Lias Andersson and Filip Chytil, both selected in the first round of the 2017 NHL Draft, who have received high marks from their new head coach with their respective training camp performances.
"I haven’t seen them before them coming here, but they’ve definitely caught my attention with their skill set, they’re skating ability, and their hockey smarts," Vigneault said. "So am I surprised? I’ve said this many times; that talent has no age. These guys have talent, and they’re definitely making it very hard on us."
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Vigneault said he expects that at some point this season, Miller will be asked to move to center, something Miller has been asked to do by Vigneault in the past.
To Miller, it makes no difference.
"Nothing changes," Miller said. "It doesn’t matter if he didn’t tell me before any game of the season what I was playing. I know what I can do at all three positions, and I don’t think that changes my mindset when I wake up to come to a game."
With this latest decision, the Rangers lineup for opening night is one step closer to being solidified. Up front, New York is likely down to three positions left to choose: Third line center, fourth line center, and fourth line left wing.
Andersson and Chytil appear to be in the mix for all three spots, and Vigeanult said they'll each play the Rangers final two preseason games.
"Definitely Andersson is real hard on the puck, and not afraid to play physical," captain Ryan McDonagh said. "That’s what you want to see from a young player. The same thing with Chytil: he likes to make small plays in tight, and use his skill and his size. He’s realizing that on the smaller sheet you have to do that in small areas, and he’s played pretty well for us in the preseason.
"Between the two of them it’s pretty exciting step to see them gaining the strength in their game as much as they can."
At a position that assumes heightened responsibility in the defensive zone, there's an on-paper risk with entrusting two center spots to a pair of 18-year-olds.
"For me, as a center, you just want to be a support guy for everyone," said Mika Zibanejad, the Rangers No. 1 center. "Whether it’s in the defensive zone, or in the offensive zone, or in the neutral zone, everywhere, you want to be in support, and be close, and be an outlet, and want the puck. The positioning defensively is maybe the hardest. Everyone here is really, really talented offensively, and the defensive part to kind of come back as a centerman that’s the tougher part, I guess."
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The other factor for the Rangers to consider is injured forward Jesper Fast, recovering from offseason hip surgery. He'll miss the start of the regular season but, could return around the nine-game mark, the time that the Rangers would have to return Chytil and Andersson to their respective amateur teams, or burn a year off their entry-level contracts.
For now though, age will just be a number if Vigneault and co. decide that either Andersson, or Chytil, or both give the Rangers the best opportunity to win.
"It’s a possibility," Vigneault said. "We’ve got these two games, and both of the kids are going to play both games right now. We’ve got them slotted in. We’ll see what happens, and we’ll make the best decision for our team."