Sniping Rangers prospect states early roster case

Prospect camp scrimmages are prospect camp scrimmages, but Rangers free-agent signee Ville Meskanen had an impressive morning, sniping a pair before getting one in the shootout.

The 22-year-old Finn, who recorded 44 points (24-20) in 48 games for Ilves, is a candidate to earn a spot with a Rangers team that seems to be shy of scorers on the wing.

“The way he can spin around in the slot and snipe it, that’s not easy to do,” said Gordie Clark, Rangers director of player personnel. “He’s got a lot of talent. It’s the same thing, with him though. His body has to catch up.”

The Blueshirts, we have learned, did inquire about Adam Fox before the Harvard junior defenseman’s rights went to Carolina from Calgary as part of the Dougie Hamilton-Noah Hanifin swap, but the price was too high.

The Rangers have interest in a reunion with impending free agent Michael Grabner, but won’t get into a bidding war to sign No. 40. General manager Jeff Gorton is an interested third-party to the John Tavares sweeps, with the Blueshirts having ample cap space with which to help Tampa Bay, Toronto and Dallas if one of those clubs is able to convince the captain to depart the Island.