si
The New York Rangers have been forced to make several roster adjustments early in the 2026-27 campaign due to injuries. During training camp, Adam Sykora was placed on injured reserve with an injury expected to sideline him for several months. Once the regular season began, backup goaltender Joonas Korpisalo and fourth-line center Joe Veleno both landed on IR with lower-body injuries that will keep them out for multiple weeks. The most significant blow came when starting goaltender Igor Shesterkin suffered a season-ending lower-body injury.
As a result, Dylan Garand has been thrust into a prominent role, and the organization added depth by signing veteran netminder James Reimer to a professional tryout with the Hartford Wolf Pack. In a related move, the Rangers' forward group in Hartford is set to change. According to the New York Rangers Public Relations account on X, the team has recalled veteran forward Taylor Raddysh from the Wolf Pack and assigned Jaroslav Chmelar to Hartford.
Raddysh had been competing throughout training camp for the final right wing spot on the NHL roster. He was among the final cuts, along with Garand, and after clearing waivers, he was assigned to the Wolf Pack. In four games with Hartford, Raddysh recorded four points, scoring two goals and adding two assists. Bringing him back to the NHL roster makes sense given his established veteran status, with 373 NHL games on his resume. He is capable of handling the ever-changing role that the No. 4 right wing spot has undergone this season.
Matt Rempe was active on opening night against the Boston Bruins, with Chmelar a healthy scratch. Chmelar then played six consecutive games, was a healthy scratch once, and returned for a seventh game. However, he averaged only 8:15 of ice time per game, so reassigning him to Hartford is beneficial for his development. He can get the reps and playing time needed to continue progressing. Raddysh will now share fourth-line right-wing responsibilities with Rempe, who has appeared in only two games thus far.
This marks the second recent move by the Rangers involving a younger player heading back to the Wolf Pack and a veteran being recalled. Cole Beaudoin, one of their top prospects, was originally called up when Veleno was injured. He was reassigned to Hartford, with Justin Dowling, who now has 155 games of NHL experience, recalled to take over as the No. 4 center in the lineup.
Key Analysis
The Rangers' early-season roster shuffles reflect a strategic balance between immediate competitiveness and long-term player development. By recalling seasoned veterans like Raddysh and Dowling, the team aims to stabilize a lineup hit hard by injuries, while allowing younger prospects such as Chmelar and Beaudoin to gain valuable playing time in the AHL. This approach could pay dividends as the season progresses, ensuring that the Rangers remain competitive while nurturing their future talent.