Vinni Lettieri honored but not satisfied with career milestone
Vinni Lettieri has been here before. Four different times last season as an in-season recall, in fact. But making the Rangers’ roster out of training camp represents a milestone for the 23-year-old undrafted winger.
“I’m honored to be here,” said Lettieri, who became more noticeable by the day throughout camp. “It’s a different feeling than being called up, and it’s kind of a reward for all the hard work I’ve put into this, but I also know this is only the start.
“I’m not satisfied. I’m never going to be satisfied. Good, bad or indifferent, it’s about moving forward.”
Lettieri, who scored in his NHL debut last Dec. 29 in Detroit, before finishing 1-4=5 in 19 games with the Rangers last season, is a gritty, up-tempo, shoot-first winger whose straight-line approach fits with coach David Quinn’s philosophy. At a listed 5-foot-11, 195 pounds, the free-agent signee out of Minnesota is a guy who plays bigger than his physique. He earned his spot off a furious final week of camp, in which he elevated his game on almost a daily basis.
Brett Howden, the Rangers’ most impressive forward at prospect camp and at Traverse City, forced his way onto the roster off a solid preseason in which he took advantage of his showcase opportunities on both the penalty-kill and power-play units.
“I’m just so excited right now, it’s such a special feeling that it’s hard to put into words. Over the summer, my main goal in training was to try and make the team, but I didn’t put too much pressure on myself and I wasn’t trying to overthink it. I was just trying to do the best I could,” said the combative 6-foot-2, 195-pound, 20-year-old center, who last season captained WHL Moose Jaw and played for Canada’s World Junior team.
“I was ready for anything, whatever management and the coaches thought was best for me. I’m really excited that they have this trust in me, and I’m going to take all the opportunities I have to do the best I can.”
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Goalie Alexandar Georgiev, the incumbent backup entering camp off his fine work late last season, earned his first NHL opening-day-roster designation with a series of strong preseason performances. The 22-year-old native Bulgarian is also an undrafted free-agent signee.
“This is different than coming up near the end of the season,” said the confident Georgiev, who was 4-4-1/.918/3.15 last year following his recall. “I feel like this is a first step.
“It’s one thing to get some games. I want to establish myself as an NHL goalie. I want to be an NHL player for a very long time.”
Mats Zuccarello (maintenance) did not skate Friday. Cody McLeod skated in what appears to be his spot on a line with Kevin Hayes in the middle and Jimmy Vesey on the right.
Other lines and defense pairs: Chris Kreider-Mika Zibanejad-Pavel Buchnevich; Ryan Spooner-Filip Chytil-Jesper Fast; Vlad Namestnikov-Howden-Lettieri; Brady Skjei-Adam McQuaid; Brendan Smith-Kevin Shattenkirk; Marc Staal-Neal Pionk; Fredrik Claesson-Tony DeAngelo.
Matt Beleskey (shoulder), Boo Nieves (concussion) and Brandon Crawley (abdominal strain) were placed on IR. Crawley may be pronounced fit enough to skate and thus to be sent to the Wolf Pack before cap charges begin to kick in next Wednesday, a day before the Blueshirts’ opener against the Predators at the Garden.
If Crawley is off IR and on the roster by then, Blueshirts would enter the year with just over $1.9 million of available cap space.