Adam Edstrom certainly gave the impression of a seasoned fighter, but the towering New York Rangers forward insists that his bout with Utah’s Jack McBain on Saturday at Madison Square Garden was his first-ever fight.
In the second period of New York’s 6-5 overtime defeat to Utah, Edstrom performed admirably during his altercation with McBain in front of the Utah net at the 9:23 mark. The 6-foot-7 forward threw some powerful punches without seeming to take any in return until they both fell to the ice. However, Edstrom received a game misconduct because the fight broke out after Sam Carrick had already engaged with Michael Kesselring.
The 24-year-old shared with reporters after practice on Sunday that it was his inaugural fight at any level of hockey. When asked about his fighting skills, he pointed to his linemate Matt Rempe and said, “I’ve talked to this guy.”
Rempe is no stranger to fighting, having faced several NHL tough guys during his 17 games last season, including an encounter with Matt Martin during his first NHL shift against the New York Islanders at the NHL Stadium Series. This time, however, it was Edstrom’s moment, and he made an impression, even on Rangers coach Peter Laviolette.
“I thought he did a good job in the fight,” Laviolette remarked. “He’s obviously a big guy, heavy and strong, and really fit. He jumped in during the scuffle, and I thought he held his own well.”
While Edstrom’s fight was noteworthy, he is not expected to take on the role of an enforcer. The Swedish forward already adds a lot of value with his impressive skating for his size, scoring ability, and tenacity on the forecheck. He had a strong training camp, netting three goals and totaling four points in the preseason after scoring two goals in 11 NHL games last season. This season, he’s been noticeably more physical, and the fight adds a new dimension to his game.
“Any time you start adding layers to your game, you’re contributing pieces that can help the team, which is positive,” Laviolette added.
Edstrom will be back in the lineup on Monday when the Rangers face the Detroit Red Wings, likely getting more playing time on the fourth line due to Jimmy Vesey being placed on LTIR with a lower-body injury that will sideline him for at least the first 10 games of the season.
