* The imminent return of Jimmy Vesey means that an overflowed Rangers roster will have to be trimmed of one fourth-liner. (See if you can guess who before the next item,) * When training camp opened the publicity-filled Matt Rempe appeared to have a lock on the fourth line, but The Skating Giraffe's Sideshow Charlie circus act has worn thin. (Still, the majority of fans on the Rempe Bandwagon do not want him to leave.) * Meanwhile, the equally large Adam Edstrom has proven to be a more useful player than The Remper; ditto for Jonny Brodzinski. (Call it an embarrassment of fourth-line riches.) * The biggest surprise so far has to be Sam Carrick. The ex-Oiler not only plays a wise, 200-foot game but also can handle his dukes as well as Rempe. (Kudos to Generalissimo Drury for that one.) * If a thunderous Jacob Trouba check requires about 16 NHL reviews then you know that it was clean. (Have you noticed, nobody's talking about Jake The Rake leaving New York anymore.) * Winning cures all and that's why the pre-camp Trouba troubles have faded into the mist. (But the captain's newfound popularity will not keep him from eventually being traded later in the season or, for sure, by summertime. * If there's a better line than Panarin-Trocheck-Lafreniere, I'd like to know where it's hiding. (And don't tell me Toronto.) Stan Fischler talks about Matt Rempe. * Then again, The Grit Guys – Cuylle-Chytil-Kakko – aren't too bad either. (That is, as long as Fiery Fil stays healthy. * A Zac Jones fan said that it's sad that his boy isn't getting more ice time. (don't blame me, blame it on the emergence of Victor Mancini.) * The Reilly Smith signing is looking like another feather in Drury's chapeau. (Let's see how Smitty does in the second half. He was awful for Pitt in the 2023-24 homestretch.) * Ever-wise columnist Elliotte Friedman says the Rangers want to sign Alexis Lafrenirere to an eight-year deal. Big Al's agent wants it shorter. (The Maven believes both.) " A long deal," writes Friedman, "would cut down on Lafreniere's ability to strike again in his prime." (And that also makes sense.)
