LOS ANGELES — Arron Asham had no illusions entering training camp.
“I came in knowing that it would be do or die,” said the 35-year-old winger who will join the Rangers’ lineup for Monday’s game against the Kings after having been a healthy scratch for the opener in Phoenix. “I wanted to show that I could contribute to this team this year, but I also want to prove that I can play in the league next year.”
Asham had a strong camp after clearing waivers in late June. He is one of the few Rangers who play a bruising style. That’s why he’ll be on the fourth line with Dominic Moore and Derek Dorsett against the Kings and also against the Sharks on Tuesday while the more finesse-oriented Jesper Fast will take a seat for at least the next two games.
“We’re playing one of the biggest teams in the NHL [on Monday], a team that rolls four lines, has size up front and on defense and uses its size,” coach Alain Vigneault said following practice. “The Sharks are a big team, too.
“Arron is one of our most physical players, so he’s going to be in for both of these games.”
Asham came into camp on the outside looking in at the depth chart after having cleared waivers in late June. But he had a strong preseason to earn a spot on the club.
“I’m one of those players who was on the edge of not making the team, and I know that,” the 13-year NHL veteran said. “I want to play well and extend my career.”
Asham, who joined the Rangers last year after signing a two-year deal worth $2 million, somehow never could ingratiate himself with John Tortorella. The then-coach scratched No. 45 intermittently during the season even when it seemed unwarranted before sitting him out of the final two games of the Boston playoff series in favor of minor leaguer Micheal Haley.
“It was definitely frustrating but I wasn’t going to complain or voice my opinion,” Asham said. “We were trying to win hockey games so I kept my opinion to myself.
“Now, it’s exciting to be able to show the new coaching staff what I can do. I know I was on track to be one of the guys to be sent down, so I wanted to prove to [Vigneault] that I belonged here.”
Vigneault said that he not only recognized Asham’s desperation, but had a conversation about it with the winger.
“Arron and I had a discussion before camp started and I told him he at the point of his career where was fighting to stay in the NHL,” the coach said. “He went through waivers so that means that 30 teams passed on him.”
The Asham-Moore-Dorsett unit should be a straight-forward unit with a straightforward assignment: to get the puck in deep, go to work below the hash marks and take the body.
“My style has never changed,” Asham said. “I’m going to go out there and do what I’ve always done.”
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J.T. Miller, the 20-year-old winger who played with Moore and Dorsett (and on the first power play unit) in the 4-1 defeat to the Coyotes, scored two goals for the AHL Wolf Pack on Sunday after having been demoted on Saturday.
The return to health of Ryan Callahan, who will make his season debut against the Kings, prompted the decision.
“After talking with [general manager Glen Sather and assistant GM Jeff Gorton] about the numbers situation, we felt with J.T. being such a young player, he needed to play,” Vigneault said. “Having two extra forwards didn’t make a lot of sense and I knew Arron would be in the lineup sooner rather than later.
“A lot of times at the start of the season, veterans get a longer look and longer opportunity.”
Rick Nash explained why he dropped the gloves against Martin Hanzal late in the third period of the match in Phoenix after the Coyotes’ winger had nailed Derek Stepan with a thunderous hit.
“I was sticking up for a teammate, that’s it,” said Nash, who hadn’t fought since midway through the 2009-10 season. “It was a big hit on a guy who’s a big part of our team and a big piece of the puzzle.
“It doesn’t matter if it was clean or not,” said No. 61. “Fighting is part of the game.”