Two days after sending popular forward Matt Rempe to Hartford in the American Hockey League, the New York Rangers have called up Jake Leschyshyn for their game against the Anaheim Ducks on Saturday.
The 25-year-old forward is expected to be an extra player for Saturday’s matchup unless there are any illnesses or injuries among the Rangers. All 12 forwards participated in practice on Friday. Alexis Lafreniere, who missed practice earlier in the week, returned to score his fourth goal in a 3-1 defeat against the Florida Panthers on Thursday.
Leschyshyn was recognized as the Second Star in Hartford’s 4-3 overtime victory over Lehigh Valley on Friday, scoring his first goal of the season just 49 seconds into the third period and assisting on a prior goal by defenseman Matthew Robertson. In five games this season, he has accumulated three points (one goal, two assists).
Last year, Leschyshyn played 47 games with Hartford, tallying 19 points (eight goals, 11 assists).
He has 77 games of NHL experience, including 14 games played with the Rangers over two seasons. Last season, he did not score in one game with New York, and he was held scoreless in 13 games during the 2022-23 season after being claimed off waivers from the Vegas Golden Knights.
Across two seasons with the Golden Knights, he appeared in 63 games and recorded six points (two goals, four assists) after being selected in the second round (No. 62 overall) of the 2017 NHL Draft.
As a bottom-six forward, Leschyshyn is likely to watch from the sidelines as Sam Carrick centers the fourth line, with Jonny Brodzinski and Adam Edstrom on the wings. The strong performance of that line contributed to Rempe’s inability to make the roster, leading to his reassignment to Hartford. Both Brodzinski and Edstrom, who previously played alongside Leschyshyn in Hartford, have secured regular playing time with the Rangers this season.
Jimmy Vesey started skating with the Rangers this week but is currently on LTIR with a lower-body injury that requires him to miss the first 10 games of the season. He is still in a no-contact jersey during practice, and coach Peter Laviolette has not provided a timeline for his return.
The Rangers (5-1-1) aim to rebound from a lackluster performance against the Panthers, while the Ducks come into the game with a 3-2-1 record after their 3-1 victory over the San Jose Sharks on Tuesday.
