Major Development has surfaced on Brett Berard returning to the New York Rangers lineup
Photo credit: New York Post
TheNew York Rangers could use someone like Brett Berard, who was a bright spot for the team earlier in the year. How could they work the roster, to find him a spot in the NHL once again?
The New York Rangers have pieced together two wins out of their last three games. While it seems that the Rangers we love are back, we can't help but notice there are holes in the lineup, which could hold the team back from contention.
While Adam Edstrom, and Sam Carrick have been a revelation on the bottom six, and Matt Rempe is improved that's not the whole story.
Whether it be Matt Rempe, Jimmy Vesey, or Jonny Brodzinski, the mix hasn't been right.
One player who has been missing from the lineup that fans clamor for is Brett Berard who was sent down to the AHL when the team brought up Bo Groulx.
A line of Edstrom, Carrick, and Berard seems nice in theory, but limiting Berard's playing time seems counterintuitive since that was the reason he was sent down in the first place.
Berard needs more minutes in the AHL to refine his game and stay confident for when the time comes to another callup, he'll be the player the Rangers need to possibly stay up longer.
The Rangers could also consider demoting Reilly Smith to the fourth line to make adjustments for Brett Berard.
Smith's short-handed goal against the Utah Hockey Club would make an easy argument against it, considering the Rangers had him as one of eleven players who had a point against the Hockey Club in their 5-3 win.
Another option I've seen is that the Rangers could move Reilly Smith down to the fourth line and insert Berard with Mika Zibanejad. While this makes more sense than banishing Berard to the fourth line, Smith's short-handed goal in Utah started the Rangers' comeback.
While it is a tough suggestion, they could leave Berard in the minors and let him continue to develop instead of destroying the newfound balance that has delivered recent wins for the Rangers.
This could mean, we would have to wait until next season, when the team moves on from Jimmy Vesey and Reilly Smith are traded or walk to free agency.
Alternatively, New York can leave Berard in the minors and pull him up for next season when Smith and Vesey are moved on. New York will have openings on the roster to fill which Berard would do nicely in.
But it would secure a long-term spot in the lineup for him, and allow him to maximize his minutes in the NHL.
Berard has played 18 games in the AHL and scored 13 points (7 G, 6 A).
Previously on NYRangersInsider
| POLL | ||
JANVIER 18 | 622 ANSWERS Major Development has surfaced on Brett Berard returning to the New York Rangers lineup Should forward Brett Berard be recalled to the New York Rangers this season? | ||
| Yes | 502 | 80.7 % |
| No | 120 | 19.3 % |
| List of polls | ||
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