New York Rangers make unexpected roster cut yet again with regular season approaching

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Joshua Deeds
October 5, 2024 (6:25 PM)

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The New York Rangers and GM Chris Drury have made a decision to trim the roster once more.

Today they have announced they have placed defenseman Connor Mackey on waivers, for the purpose of re-assignment to the AHL, as reported by Elliotte Friedman of the 32 TP.

If he clears, he will join Brennan Othmann, who was reassigned to the Hartford Wolfpack today.

Mackey only played 1 game with the Rangers in 2023-2024, with no points registered and 5 PIMs.

The majority of his production came from the AHL where he played 44 games for the Hartford Wolfpack, scoring 11 points( 2 G, 9 A) in that time frame.

Mackey played only one game for the Rangers in 2023-24, picking up a fighting major and three blocked shots. The 28-year-old spent most of the 2023-24 campaign at AHL Hartford, where he had two goals and nine points in 44 regular-season contests.

Source: CBS Sports
Rangers' Connor Mackey: Placed on waivers

According to scouting reports, Mackey was a defenseman who has great skating ability and high hockey IQ, why hasn't this player turned his opportunities into an NHL job?

Observations. December 2020 - Connor Mackey is a smooth-skating defenseman with a powerful stride. He's known for his adjustment to pressure, high hockey IQ in situational reads and anticipation to play development and his ability to play with different defender styles.

He is way more of a playmaker and transitional defenseman and he has shown the ability to run a PP. With Calgary, it looks like he could switch to the right side and fill a need for depth the Flames have been needing this offseason. He has a potential to start off the season at the 6th or 7th defender and move his way higher with steady play. He is physical and defends the rush well. Flames land the high-profile free agent from Minnesota State University and hope he can provide multi-cat production at the NHL level for fans.

Source: Dobber Prospects
Connor Mackey

It seems that he will be a call-up option for the rest of his professional hockey career, but will remain a valuable veteran player in Hartford.

Another case of "what if" and "what went wrong",

Mackey has bounced around the league, from the Calgary Flames to the Arizona Coyotes, and now to the New York Rangers organizations.