LAS VEGAS — The absurd grind of this 10-day preseason trip out west that featured four games in the last five nights is finally a thing of the past.
Now, following Friday night’s 4-1 defeat to the Kings, the Rangers can get serious about preparing for Thursday’s season-opener in Phoenix. Now the roster can be set by Monday at 3 p.m., but not before, in coach Alain Vigneault’s words, “We have three decisions to make, one on defense and two up front.”
“We just talked quickly with management,” Vigneault said after the Blueshirts finished the exhibition season 1-5 and with four straight losses in which they were outscored 18-5. “We talked about it, we’ll take the night and then make our decisions.”
On defense, the decision is between keeping Stu Bickel and Justin Falk as the seventh on the blue line. Bickel, who adds toughness to a team that sure can use it, can also play the wing, which might be an advantage.
The picture up front is more complicated, and even more complex because of the uncertainty over the status of both Ryan Callahan and Carl Hagelin. If the Rangers do not place either player on the Long Term Injury list, the club won’t be afforded any cap relief while they are sidelined and as such might be able to keep just 12 forwards on the roster.
Ten forwards would seem to have spots locked up: Rick Nash, Brad Richards, Derek Stepan, Derick Brassard, Brian Boyle, Mats Zuccarello, Benoit Pouliot, Derek Dorsett, Taylor Pyatt and Dominic Moore.
That would leave J.T. Miller, Darroll Powe, Arron Asham, Chris Kreider and Marek Hrivik as the primary candidates to fill the remaining two or three spots.
Miller seemed to nail down a spot with a tenacious, effective match against the Kings in which he used both his size and skill to create chances for himself and linemates Hrivik and Oscar Lindbergh. After missing the first few days of camp with a hamstring pull, Miller had catching up to do — which he has done.
“It was tough to deal with, sitting back and watching everybody show what they had,” said the 20-year-old, who scored two goals in three games, including one on Friday. “The last couple of games I tried to leave everything on the ice. I think I played hard.”
Miller played 26 games with the Rangers last year. He said though he did not come to camp thinking that would give him an advantage in making the squad.
“I can’t have that mentality because then I might lapse into taking things for granted and sitting back too much,” the 20-year-old said. “I came to camp to earn a spot and to work for it.”
Vigneault clearly was impressed by Miller’s work. It would be stunning if he does not make the team.
“I thought he played real strong,” Vigneault said. “He skated well, when the opportunity came he made some plays and when he had the chance to play the man, he did.
“That whole line of youth and potential played well.”
If Miller and Powe — who had a very good camp but a so-so last couple of games — are in, the final decision pretty much comes down to Asham, Kreider or Hrivik, who definitely has some jam to his game.
Kreider is likely a long shot, though he played more decisively against the Kings than he had in his previous three matches.
“We talked about being accountable and analyzing my game,” Kreider said of a chat he had with the staff this week. “I don’t worry about the depth chart. I go play. I try to get better every game and I think I have.”
Even so, he hardly earned a ringing endorsement from the coach.
“I thought he played all right,” Vigneault said “He showed some good moments.”