New York Rangers Set Opening Night Roster
Vitali Kravtsov is one of the players who was assigned to Hartford.
The New York Rangers have set their opening night roster at 23, and did so today by assigning Vitali Kravtsov, Morgan Barron, and Greg McKegg to Hartford.
OFFICIAL: #NYR have assigned Morgan Barron, Vitali Kravtsov + Greg McKegg to @WolfPackAHL.
— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) October 11, 2021
Full details: https://t.co/SkkRFVvIym
Before you freak out, there’s a good chance the assignment of Kravtsov is temporary.
Dryden Hunt and Julien Gauthier both need waivers. So with uncertainty around Reaves for the first game, this may have been the preference for the time being.
— Shayna (@hayyyshayyy) October 11, 2021
This makes a lot of sense, more so when you consider the Rangers are dressing a beefed up lineup vs. the Washington Capitals that should include Ryan Reaves and Jarred Tinordi. The Blueshirts are in action again for the home opener on Thursday vs. Dallas, and at that point it is feasible that Kravtsov is called back up and draws into the lineup.
Here's what I'm seeing for the lineup. Looks like #NYR may go big-and-gritty for the opener in DC.
— Vince Z. Mercogliano (@vzmercogliano) October 11, 2021
Laf – Zib – Kreider
Panarin – Strome – Kakko
Blais – Chytil – Goodrow
Hunt – Rooney – Reaves
Lindgren – Fox
Miller – Trouba
Tinordi – Nemeth
The one odd thing is that the Rangers opted to keep Libor Hajek on the roster as opposed to Kravtsov, which would suggest they feel he’d be claimed on waivers. I’m not sure that would be the case, and even if it were, the team has numerous players ahead of him on the depth chart as it is.
