Coaches love internal competition during training camp. So, Mike Sullivan must be pretty darn pleased with what’s taking place in his first camp as coach of the New York Rangers.
There’s rookie Noah Laba seriously pushing Juuso Parssinen and Jonny Brodzinski for the third-line center role. And former first-round picks Gabe Perreault (2023) and Brennan Othmann (2021) are right there competing for a spot on that same line, likely left wing — if not for a top-six role should Artemi Panarin remain out with a lower-body issue.
But no so fast with the rookies. Because there’s also Brett Berard (no greybeard himself at 23) and veteran Conor Sheary (in camp on a PTO) standing out in the preseason.