PHILADELPHIA — Lias Andersson didn’t get another chance to impress the Rangers’ front office — but it’s uncertain what that means for him and the team.
The No. 7-overall pick from this year’s draft blocked a shot on Monday with an already gimpy right foot and sat out the Rangers’ preseason finale, a 4-3 overtime loss to the Flyers on Tuesday night at Wells Fargo Center. With a roster cutdown to around 25 players set to come on Wednesday, it seems the injury isn’t too big a factor for coach Alain Vigneault when considering his roster.
“We’re pretty close to where I think we want to be at this time,” Vigneault said before the game, which he watched from the press box while Scott Arniel and Lindy Ruff ran the bench.
Andersson, who will turn 19 on Oct. 13, has impressed in camp and could fill a much-needed void down the middle. The same could be said for the other first-round pick, Filip Chytil, who played his fourth preseason game on Tuesday.
But general manager Jeff Gorton said he doesn’t want to stunt their growth with limited roles in the NHL, and that means they could be headed back to Europe.
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“We were fortunate that both have showed well,” Gorton said on the MSG telecast between periods. “We will sit down in the next few days and figure out what is best for them, what is best for us. We don’t want to put them in situation where they aren’t going to grow and develop their skill level and be fourth-line players. We will talk to everybody over the next few days, our coaching staff, [AHL Wolf Pack GM] Chris Drury and the rest of our staff and make those decisions. Really happy with them and look like they have real bright futures which is good for the Rangers.”
Backup goalie Ondrej Pavelec took a Shayne Gostisbehere slap shot in the neck late in the second period, but stayed in the game and stopped 34-of-38 shots. Travis Koneckny scored the overtime winner from a sharp angle after Pavelec had just stopped him on a semi-breakaway.
Pavelec said he has practiced with a throat shield before, but never got comfortable enough to use it in a game.
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It’s expected that veteran forward Andrew Desjardins will be let out of his professional tryout now that he had been suspended for two preseason games after his shot to head Miles Wood of the Devils on Saturday night.
“Those are the circumstances right now that we’re faced with,” Vigneault said.
Forward Paul Carey got one more preseason game, because he has impressed Vigneault thus far through camp and become a bit of a surprise contender for a roster spot.
“In the last four or five days here, he’s caught my attention,” Vigneault said of the 29-year-old Bostonian with 32 games of NHL experience. “He’s caught my attention in the games with his speed and the quickness that he can get to check and get away from check. And I really like his practice habits. He’s worked really hard and he’s been right there in the mix. Real good skater, real good speed.”