After falling two wins shy of the Stanley Cup Final, after winning the Presidents’ Trophy, after returning most of the core, the Rangers are in win-now mode.
This is their championship window.
Expectations are at the top.
Anything less would be disappointing.
But while the present may be bright, so is the future.
Training camp has proven that.
A number of prospects — from forwards Matt Rempe, Brett Berard and Adam Edstrom to defenseman Victor Mancini — have shined, and could either make the team or be valuable pieces later on this season.
Extra roster spots are available because of injuries to Jimmy Vesey (lower body) up front and Ryan Lindgren (upper body) on the blue line.
With the regular season set to start Wednesday, decisions have to be made.
Some of the aforementioned prospects have at least given the Rangers something to think about.
The 6-foot-3 skilled Mancini is an interesting player to wa
He has appeared in four preseason games, has two goals and an average ice time of 28.6 minutes.
The Rangers’ 159th-overall pick in 2022, Mancini got his first taste of professional hockey last season in Hartford and posted three assists in seven games for the Wolf Pack, adding three assists in 10 AHL playoff games.
His development has come along of late.
“He’s played well,” Rangers coach Peter Laviolette said of Mancini. “He’s played in a lot of scrimmages and a lot of games for us. He’s taken down a lot of ice time and games, from rookie camp through this camp here. Sometimes for young players, that can be a little bit challenging.”
Then there are the young forwards, led by the physical Rempe.
He made a name for himself last year as an enforcer, but he has worked to be more than that, spending time in the offseason training alongside teammates Chris Kreider and Jonathan Quick.
Others, such as Berard and Edstrom, have impressed as well.
The 22-year-old Berard enjoyed a big year at Hartford last winter, producing 25 goals and 23 assists in 71 games, and finds himself still with the big club a few days prior to the start of the regular season.
The 6-foot-7 Edstrom has had a strong preseason, producing three goals and an assist in four games.
He could wind up on the fourth line alongside Rempe to give the Rangers a massive look.
The 23-year-old Swede got a taste of the NHL a year ago, appearing in 11 games for the Rangers and scoring a pair of goals.
tch.
With veteran Connor Mackey being placed on waivers on Saturday, the final defenseman spot will come down to Mancini, fellow youngster Matthew Robertson and Chad Ruhwedel, who appeared in five games with the Blueshirts last season.
In a recent exhibition game against the Bruins, Mancini had a goal and an assist.
Fellow prospect Brennan Othmann was sent to Hartford on Saturday, meaning Edstrom and Berard survived another day.
“I’m proud of myself,” Edstrom said recently. “I feel like I’ve kind of shown a new level of hockey. I feel like I came into camp very well prepared.”
