Rangers’ roster shake-up begins with call-ups as team signals its trade intentions-quang

In the aftermath of an unsettling end to their four-game road trip, the Rangers both injected new blood into their lineup and elicited trade partners. 

The Post confirmed that president and general manager Chris Drury sent a memo to all 31 of his NHL counterparts to announce that the Rangers are open for business, specifically citing multiple players as available, not just their longest-tenured player, Chris Kreider, and captain, Jacob Trouba, as Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman first reported. 

Coincidentally, Kreider did not suit up for Monday’s game against the Blues. The Rangers said the alternate captain is day-to-day with an upper-body injury. 

Rangers President and general manager Chris Drury speaking during a press conference at the Rangers practice facility in Tarrytown, New York.

Matt Rempe returns for the Rangers on Monday after a stint in the AHL.

As a result, Brett Berard made his NHL debut at Madison Square Garden Monday night, after receiving his first official call-up to the big leagues since the Blueshirts drafted him 134th overall out of the U.S. National Development Team Program in 2020. 

The 22-year-old turned out just to be the start, with the Rangers sending for Matt Rempe on Monday, as well, in order to alter all but one of their units. 

The slew of changes appeared to be both a want and a need. 

“Both factored into it,” head coach Peter Laviolette said after morning skate in Tarrytown. “A couple guys not in the lineup tonight. That created a need. [Berard] was one of the last guys to leave camp, we like the way he plays the game. See how he does tonight, he gets an opportunity to play some minutes. We feel like it could be a good fit for him. He does bring certain things. 

“He’s in your face, even the battles in the corners and the front of the net. He plays a fast style, he gets in there. He’s determined.” 

Matt Rempe loves to fight.

Filip Chytil, cleared of a concussion by specialists in New York last week, continued to practice with the Rangers on Monday morning as he did in both Calgary and Edmonton. 

Since the Czech center is still not ready to play, however, Kaapo Kakko is getting an official shot in the middle. 

The 23-year-old Finn lined up between Adam Edstrom and Reilly Smith, which effectively bumped Jonny Brodzinski from the lineup. Brodzinski had centered Kakko and Will Cuylle in the previous four games in the wake of Chytil’s injury. 

Brett Berard has also been called up.

“A little different,” Kakko told The Post of the switch before the Oilers game, reflecting on the brief stint he played center in Calgary. “It’s been awhile, maybe last time in Finland I played center. It’s something new. I think it was kind of nice. I feel good about it.” 

While the Artemi Panarin-Vincent Trocheck-Alexis Lafreniere line remained intact, Cuylle was bumped up to play alongside Berard and Mika Zibanejad. After Zibanejad finished minus-four for the third time this season in Edmonton, the Swede finds himself between two youngsters who have both been playing particularly well in their respective seasons. 

Cuylle’s seven five-on-five goals lead the Rangers entering Monday’s contest, which is a notable statistic that doesn’t even capture how effective his all-around game has been. 

It has led to a bit of an expanded role under Laviolette, who has entrusted the 22-year-old with more and more shorthanded ice time. 

This type of shake-up would have to be endorsed by the Rangers hierarchy, who have put the rest of the NHL on notice that they are open to making moves. 

There has been growing disappointment with the Blueshirts, and the organization has made its first act of change. 

Calling upon the kids could just be the first step.