All told, 11 of the 20 Rangers dressed in tonight's exhibition opener have never appeared in a regular season game with the Rangers, including the highly-touted rookie forward Pavel Buchnevich, newly acquired Mika Zibanejad and free agent Brandon Pirri.
The team's top line of Zibanejad, Buchnevich and Chris Kreider has garnered rave reviews from head coach Alain Vigneault over the last two days, and is expected to be the Rangers' top power play unit against the Islanders.
"I like very much playing with them and we'll see how the game goes," Buchnevich said through a translator Monday on playing with Zibanejad and Kreider. The 21-year-old stated his linemates have been helpful for him in communicating as the Russian continues to learn English and get acclimated to America.
"Really skilled," Zibanejad said of Buchnevich. "Can pass the puck very well. Fun to play with. A lot of speed. Same with Kreids. It's a good combination for me."
Buchnevich, who signed with the Rangers in May after the organization drafted him in the third-round in 2013, said he couldn't help but be a bit nervous about playing at Madison Square Garden for the first time.
"I try not to stay nervous, of couse, but of course I feel tomorrow I will feel it before the game," Buchnevich said with a smile.
Although Vigneault praised the young winger, he added that Buchnevich still must go through the "process," but that he's made strides since June's prospect camp, especially in his ability to communicate with his teammates.
"With Buch, we have to understand here, we have a young player that's got a tremendous amount of upside, but we've got to help him with the process," Vigneault said. "We've got to help him with the process. His English has imporved quite a bit, and hockey-wise, from what I saw at development camp to what I'm seeing now, you can tell the potential that's there."
