The New York Rangers desperately needed to add a first-line right wing and a third-line center to their roster at this year’s trade deadline.
On March 8th, General Manager Chris Drury went out and got Jack Roslovic from Columbus and Alex Wennberg from Seattle. Seven games later, with a 5-2-0 record, it appears that both players are fitting in quite nicely in the Rangers’ lineup with one goal and three assists a pop.
This is a special experience for Roslovic specifically. As a kid who grew up in Columbus, Ohio, he was a big Blue Jackets and Rick Nash fan. Nash himself went from being a legendary figure in Ohio to battling for a Stanley Cup with the Rangers.
“I loved them during the playoff series when they went to the Cup and [John Buccigross] was doing the Bucci Overtime Challenge stuff,” Roslovic said. “When I got older – I loved the Rangers. I loved it when Nasher came here.”
It’s not easy to be traded away from your childhood team, but Roslovic certainly had a lot of interest in New York.
“Columbus will always be Columbus,” Roslovic said. “I’ll go back there in the Summertime. I found an easy way of living there, so I enjoy it, but this was definitely one of the places I would love to come to.
“Now being here – it’s pretty awesome. I love the city, the fans, the guys, the team. So the opportunity we have is pretty amazing.”
Roslovic had a ton of crossover with some former and current Rangers during his time with the Winnipeg Jets. He loves to hop on the sticks and play some Fortnite now and then when he has free time.
“On off days I like to keep active, so I’m sure this city will have things to offer. When I’m chilling at home, I’m not a TV or movie guy so I play games to socialize,” Roslovic said, saying he played a ton of Fortnite with Anthony Bitetto. “Wheels [Blake Wheeler] and Trouby [Jacob Trouba] don’t play games. Blake will never play games, and Trouby has an art career now.”
With the team’s busy schedule, he and Wennberg haven’t had much time to settle in away from the ice just yet, but they’re both incredibly grateful to have the chance to be with the Rangers organization.
“The chance to live in New York City – that’s just amazing and then playing at the Garden, I feel like that’s a bucket list thing,” Wennberg said. “So now it’s just trying to enjoy the moment and make the best of it.”
Wennberg went from a Seattle team outside the Western Conference’s playoff picture to an elite Stanley Cup contender in the East.
“I feel like right now, both the East and West, there are good teams wherever you play,” Wennberg said. “I wouldn’t say one side is different from the other. Maybe it used to be back in the day, but right now I feel like wherever you play there are so many skilled players”.”
When it comes to playing with a new team with a new set of systems, his adjustment has looked relatively seamless.
“We play more of a fun style of hockey. We play an offensively-minded game, so I feel like that just helps me to be excited to play hockey more, especially being here – a part of a winning team”, Wennberg said.
Roslovic and Wennberg might be the exact puzzle pieces the Rangers were looking for as they prepare to make a Stanley Cup run. There’s a long way to go, but it’s depth pieces like these that matter.
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