SEATTLE — After two weeks and five games since he last saw action, Johnny Brodzinski returned to the Rangers' lineup Sunday night in their 2-0 win over the Kraken.
The 31-year-old knows the drill. He lived by it throughout his professional hockey career.
Filip Chytil went down in a collision with Kandre Miller in a match against the Sharks earlier this week and was unable to travel with the team on Saturday, as the Czech midfielder underwent further assessment of an upper-body injury.
Just like when Chytil went down a little over a year ago, Brodzinski knew that meant he would be the next man up.
It doesn't matter that Brodzinski hasn't played since November 1st.
He knows that better than anyone, as a player who played deep for most of his nine-year career between the AHL and NHL.
“I feel like the further I get in my career, the further away I get, the more ready I am to get back in the lineup,” Brodzinski said Sunday morning, before putting two shots on goal and making two interceptions. One shot at winning the Climate Pledge Arena. “On days off, things like that, I do more on the ice to stay ready.
“So, when I get back into the lineup, it's smooth. I've been prepared all this time. The transition should be very smooth.”
Brodzinski said he plans to do exactly what he did last year when he returned to the lineup amid Chytil's injury: try to produce with Will Coyle and Kaapo Kakko.
The three skaters played on one line together in 13 games last season, outscoring opponents 7-4 in 101:28 of ice time, according to Natural Stat Trick.
They may have been outscored 56-49 but finished 22-22 on high-danger chances.
“They've played well in the past before, where he's been out there,” coach Peter Laviolette said of the unit with Brodzinski, who has one goal and one assist in seven games so far this season. “He's played every line since I've been here. He's played every position – left wing, center, right wing. I think it should be fairly smooth for him, and that line has given us good minutes in the past.
The ripple effect of losing Chytil also created an opportunity for Coyle.
With Chytil back in New York, a spot on the second power play unit was suddenly up for grabs.
During Sunday's morning skate, Coyle made the first few runs on the bumper, while captain Jacob Trouba rotated on top. However, the Rangers didn't earn any power plays in the win, so Coyle will have to wait for his next opportunity with the man advantage.
“It's a good opportunity for me,” Coyle told the newspaper from inside the visiting dressing room on Sunday morning. “It's all about getting a chance whenever you can. I think hopefully I can come out during the game and try to do my best, and see what happens.”
According to the AHL's transactions page, the Hartford Wolf Pack has released Adam Erne from their PTO unit.
