PITTSBURGH – Adam Edstrom put on a masterclass on how to make an NHL roster out of training camp as a rookie this preseason.
After earning his first shot with the Rangers last season, appearing in 11 total games including a stretch of 10 from February to March, Edstrom reported to rookie camp and immediately asserted his seniority. He scored two goals in the two prospect games against the Flyers.
The 23-year-old then came into the main camp with some serious inertia behind him.
In addition to primarily practicing with the main group, Edstrom skated in four of the Rangers’ six exhibition games. He scored three goals, including the game-winner in the Blueshirts’ comeback victory over the Islanders.
Head coach Peter Laviolette said Edstrom was hard to ignore, so there he is – all 6-foot-7 of him – in the Blueshirts’ Opening Night lineup at PPG Paints Arena.
“I’ve been working really hard this offseason, coming into the preseason, as well,” Edstrom told The Post from inside the visiting locker room Wednesday morning. “It feels good to get recognized for that. I’m very honored and pleased with the way I played. This is just the start. Preseason is over. It’s time for the real season now. I’m excited to go out there and play, it’ll be fun.”
Losing Jimmy Vesey (week-to-week with a lower-body injury) to long-term injured reserve may have opened the door for Edstrom to secure a spot in the lineup, but No. 84 was pounding on said door all of training camp anyway.
Edstrom played all but one of his 11 games last season on the fourth line, which is where he will line up Wednesday alongside Sam Carrick and Jonny Brodzinski. As a result, Matt Rempe was projected to serve as a healthy scratch for the first game of the season.
“This isn’t about scratching somebody,” Laviolette said. “Sometimes it’s going to be about the opponent, sometimes it’s going to be about play. I think Jonny had a really good camp. He brings speed, he can put up points, play different positions. Sam came in as a centerman, he can hit, bang and do a good job defensively for us – on the penalty kill. Just different things that they bring to the table.
“I think Edstrom kind of speaks for himself. He’s in the same boat as [Victor] Mancini. Came in and he did everything right. He was big, he was physical, he was fast. He put up points. He did it in rookie camp and through to the regular camp.”
Edstrom said he just wanted the Rangers to see him. While he’s hard to miss, it wasn’t just his stature that stood out.
The elements he brings to the fourth line – forechecking, size and strength – helped make every unit he skated on in training camp more effective.
It earned him the Lars-Erik Sjoberg Award, which is awarded annually to the top Rangers rookie in training camp as voted by the media. As a Swede himself, that was a high honor.
It’ll be interesting to see what the Rangers do when Vesey is healthy again. Much of it will depend on Edstrom’s play and how the Rangers start the season. If the preseason was any indication, the big-bodied rookie is pushing forward.
“I’m just playing the way that got me here and gave me this spot,” Edstrom said. “It’s always nice to be on the scoresheet and stuff like that, but I’m just going to play my simple, hard game and try to play physical, as well – whatever way I can help the team out. We’ll see what happens from there. I’m proud of the game that I’ve kept up so far. I plan to keep on going.”
