During the post-lockout minicamp that preceded last season, Chris Kreider played out of position at right wing on a pseudo-checking line with Brian Boyle and Taylor Pyatt, without getting so much as a shift on either of the Rangers’ two power-play units.
That was when John Tortorella was coach. That was before “Clean Slate” became the team’s mantra. That was before current coach Alain Vigneault had Kreider on the left to fill out a potential first-line combination featuring Brad Richards and Rick Nash for Sunday’s opening scrimmage.
“It was nice to see, and that’s where I want to be,” Kreider said. “I’ll try to take advantage of it going forward.”
There is no doubt the change in coaches released Kreider from an odd purgatory. The previous coach, who seemed resentful of the hype that accompanied Kreider during and after the stunning 2012 playoff debut in which the winger scored five goals in 18 matches right off the Boston College campus, appeared determined to tear Kreider down in order to build him back up in his own image.
This coach seems inclined to allow the 22-year-old to breathe.
“He’ll get a real good opportunity,” Vigneault said. “With his size and speed, with the way he goes to the front of the net on the power play trying to take the goaltender’s eyes out of the equation, he’s going to get a real good look.”
So Kreider, Richards and Nash on Day One, and likely together again for Monday night’s preseason opener in New Jersey against the Devils.
Of course, two years ago Wojetk Wolski was on the club’s first line with Richards and Marian Gaborik during the opening Blue-White scrimmage, and how did that work out for everyone?
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Dominic Moore, who took a year’s hiatus following the death of his wife, Katie, said he still has, “a little adjusting to do.”
“It’s still going to take a little bit to get back into it,” said Moore, who signed as a free agent in July. “It’s kind of a little of everything before I’m back in the loop, but it shouldn’t be too long before I’m feeling more confident and more instinctive out there.
“I’m not overly concerned. I expect it to come.”
Moore is embarking on his second tour of duty with the Rangers, having begun his NHL career with the Blueshirts with a five-game cameo in 2003-04 before he was a staple centering Ryan Hollweg and Colton Orr on the “HMO Line” in 2005-06.
“Driving up the Saw Mill to camp, that seems like yesterday,” said Moore, who was dealt to Nashville following his rookie year and has played for nine teams in his NHL career. “It’s crazy how time flies.
“I couldn’t be more excited to be here.”
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Henrik Lundqvist will play the first half of the opener in New Jersey, with Cam Talbot scheduled to complete the match. Vigneault said the 26-year-old Talbot is in the battle for the back-up job. … Marc Staal, who will be in the lineup against the Devils, said he expects to play four of the club’s six preseason matches. … The Rangers have 46 players on the roster (four goaltenders, 14 defensemen and 28 forwards) following Sunday’s trim of 14 players to junior and the AHL.