Lost in the headlines of promising young prospects and a two-time Stanley Cup winner on a professional tryout vying to make the Rangers roster out of training camp, there is Jonny Brodzinski.
The veteran forward, who has been a depth soldier for the Rangers the last five seasons, is back at square one, looking to prove his worth to a fourth coaching staff in New York.
“I was hoping this year was going to kind of start right where I left off,” Brodzinski told The Post after practice Saturday. “But I think I’m just going to have to grind a little bit and get back to that point. I was probably feeling the best I felt in my entire career toward the end there [last season], the last 35-40 games, 10 goals or something like that. I felt really good about my game. So, I think just continuing to build off that and go from there.”
Coming off back-to-back 50-plus-game seasons for the first time, Brodzinski enjoyed one of the most consistent stretches in his nine-year career under ex-coach Peter Laviolette.
The 32-year-old, who made the roster out of training camp for the first time last season, appeared in 31 of the final 32 games of the regular season.
Of course, it ultimately was a lost season as the Rangers missed the playoffs for the first time in four years.
But it still represented a rewarding period in Brodzinski’s career after years of bouncing between the AHL and NHL for different organizations.
“He’s been a good player for the Rangers,” new head coach Mike Sullivan said. “His reliability is conscientious play. You know what you’re going to get. You know he’s going to bring an honest effort every time he steps on the ice. He’s got a conscientious game. You know what you’re going to get from him each and every night. Those types of players are invaluable. Regardless of what that starting lineup looks like on opening night, if we’re ultimately going to become the team that we hope to become, it takes more than 12 [forwards], six [defensemen] and two [goalies], you know?
“Once again, I’ll go back to my own experience. It requires depth at all positions. I think he’s a guy that helps us in that capacity.”
Brodzinski appears to be in competition for a spot on the third line or the 13th forward role, which is one the Minnesota native is quite familiar with.
Though Brodzinski has played in nearly every crevice of the Rangers lineup, apart from defense and goal, as a wing and a center.
If one of the young forwards makes the final cut (Brett Berard, Gabe Perreault, etc.), the Rangers may have to decide between signing Conor Sheary — the aforementioned two-time champion on PTO — and sending Brodzinski down to Hartford.
Brodzinski would have to pass through waivers to be assigned to the Wolf Pack, which would put the Rangers at risk of losing their most reliable depth skater.
Players such as Berard and Perreault, however, are waivers exempt and can always be brought up eventually.
The Rangers probably will utilize their waivers-exempt skaters to ensure no one is lost.
That is unless someone has forced their way onto the roster.
There’s a chance Sheary has a leg up on Brodzinski after winning his two rings under Sullivan in Pittsburgh in 2016 and 2017.
Sheary, who doesn’t offer as much lineup flexibility as Brodzinski but has more offensive upside, presumably would sign for the league minimum of $775,000.
With unrestricted free agency potentially waiting for Brodzinski at the conclusion of the 2025-26 season, this is just another prove-it year for him in a career that’s been full of them.
“It kind of seems like it’s the same thing over and over again, really,” said Brodzinski, who registered seven assists and a career-high 12 goals last season. “Just trying to impress early, make the team out of camp, and then continue to show what I can do throughout the year. If I’m not in the lineup right away, get into it and continue to show what I can do.”
[Notigroup Newsroom in collaboration with other media outlets, with information from the following sources]
