Rangers Hint at Opening-Night Lineup with Preseason Finale Line Combinations

When the Rangers took the ice for their preseason finale, head coach Mike Sullivan described the moment as “the closest thing to a full lineup that we’ve had of any of the exhibition games to this point.” That near-complete roster offered a strong glimpse into how the team might open the regular season.

Floating near the top of that conversation were fourth-line winger Matt Rempe and rookie defenseman Albert Smits, who appear to be in prime position for two of the final roster spots. While nothing becomes official until the Rangers trim their roster to the required 23 players by Monday, the morning skate before their matchup against the Islanders at UBS Arena felt like a dress rehearsal—and it sent a clear message.

Rempe took his usual place on the fourth line, while Smits, as he has throughout the preseason, skated alongside Braden Schneider. The players who lingered as potential scratches after the session included defensemen Matthew Robertson and Scott Morrow, along with forwards Taylor Raddysh and Jaroslav Chmelar.

Sullivan offered limited specifics on the final cuts but praised Smits, the eighth overall pick in June’s draft, saying the young defenseman has “certainly made a compelling argument through his play that he’s capable of playing in the NHL.”

The rookie stood out with his physicality and crisp passing—an impressive showing for an 18-year-old. Still, the Rangers are exercising caution, much like their approach with forward Gabe Perreault last season, when they ultimately assigned him to AHL Hartford. They want to ensure Smits can be an impactful presence on the roster rather than simply filling a spot.

From a roster mechanics standpoint, both Robertson and Morrow would need to clear waivers before reporting to Hartford, whereas Smits remains waiver-exempt. Sullivan noted that Smits’ maturity and strength have already begun to show: “I think it’s been evident to us that he has that already, and it’s only going to get better.”

Rempe, skating alongside Tye Kartye and Joe Veleno, continued the alignment that defined much of training camp. The 6-foot-9 forward appeared reenergized after a challenging 2025–26 campaign in which he was limited to just 26 appearances while recovering from two thumb surgeries that hampered his contributions with his stick.

Rempe would also need to clear waivers if reassigned, while Chmelar could report to Hartford without exposing the team to a claim. Entering training camp aware of the stakes, Rempe expressed his determination—stating he “wants to be here bad”—and backed it up with eight hits in Thursday’s preseason game against the Devils.

Sullivan emphasized that Rempe’s role extends beyond fighting and hitting. “He needs to be more than that,” Sullivan said. “Looking at how the modern game is played—if a player’s value is solely in their ability to fight, how many fights does the average enforcer accumulate in a season? Maybe half a dozen?”

“If his impact is limited to five or six moments a year, then clearly there need to be other elements to his game. And I believe Rempe brings those elements. Players in his mold across the league contribute far more than just protecting teammates—they can unsettle opponents and generate tension simply by being on the ice.”

Injury updates and minor moves rounded out the day, with Nathan Aspinall, Liam Greentree, Drew Fortescue, Cole Beaudoin, Jackson Dorrington, and Carey Terrance all assigned to the Wolf Pack.

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