The Rangers’ young centers are neck-and-neck in the race for a roster spot.
Three former first-round draft picks — Brett Howden, Filip Chytil and Lias Andersson — are approaching the last opportunities to showcase why they deserve to be in a Rangers sweater on opening night next week in Madison Square Garden.
Behind top-line center Mika Zibanejad, the middle job for lines two through four are relatively up for grabs — with Ryan Strome most recently jumping over Chytil to the second line in Thursday’s shootout win over the Flyers. The three young talents are about to embark on their second seasons in the league and are one breakout performance away from locking up a roster spot heading into the Rangers’ 4-2 loss to the Islanders on Saturday night in Bridgeport, Conn.
Andersson was the only of the three to record a point in the preseason finale, assisting on Vladislav Namestnikov’s goal in the first period with a sharp pass from behind the Islanders’ net. He added to the two goals he already registered in the previous four preseason games he skated in.
“I feel like I’ve gotten better, I feel like I took steps every day and in every game,” Andersson said of his time during the preseason. “I feel better and stronger than ever.”
Chytil, the Rangers’ 21st-overall pick in the 2017 draft, is presumably the front-runner after receiving high praise from the second-year coach for his physical improvements in the offseason.
But Chytil hasn’t done much to set himself apart, including on Saturday when he was bodied off the puck a handful of times. The flashes of high-end potential he showed in the 75 games he played with the Rangers last season, where the 20-year-old collected 23 points (11 goals, 12 assists) with two game-winning goals, might not be enough to earn him a roster spot.
Though Howden, who the Rangers acquired from the Lightning in 2018, also posted 23 points last season in 66 games with a promotion to the second line in March. He played on the wing of Chytil in Saturday’s loss, continuing to show he’s a low-risk option heading into the upcoming roster decisions.
In the third period, Vitali Kravtsov collided with Islanders’ forward Casey Cizikias at center ice and the two immediately skated to their respective benches in pain.
The Russian winger was seen grabbing his left arm as the training staff took a look at him. Quinn said he hadn’t spoken to him yet following the loss, but from what he was hearing it wasn’t anything too serious.
Saturday was the Rangers’ sixth and final preseason matchup before the regular season begins on Oct. 3 when they welcome the Jets to Madison Square Garden. The Blueshirts won two of the six exhibition contests, getting outscored 18-13.