SUNRISE, Fla. — Regular season or postseason, Jonny Brodzinski is ready for the call.
It’s a lifestyle and a mindset that the 30-year-old depth skater has mastered for the entirety of his eight-year NHL career, as he’s bounced between the American Hockey League and the National Hockey League for three different clubs, including four seasons in the Rangers organization.
So when head coach Peter Laviolette inserted Brodzinski back into the Blueshirts lineup with the team facing elimination in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Final on Saturday night against the Panthers, Brodzinski was prepared to serve in the role he has his whole professional career.
“Just a big moment,” he said the morning before the game. “I’m excited for the opportunity, stayed ready this entire time [for] whenever that may be. It’s nice to get in. Then you get up in the press box, you’re watching, you can kind of see what they’re doing, see what we’re doing and hopefully try to apply some stuff that I’ve seen.”
Saturday counted as the third game Brodzinski has played for the Rangers in these playoffs after the Minnesota native appeared in Games 4 and 6 of the second-round series against the Hurricanes.
Logging 8:49 and 8:45 in each respective game, Brodzinski posted one shot on goal, three blocks and one takeaway while skating on the fourth line next to Barclay Goodrow and Jimmy Vesey.
“He can play all three [forward] positions for us,” Laviolette said of Brodzinski on Tuesday. “This is probably his longest stay and extension into the NHL and now playoff games being taken down. I think he’s done an amazing job coming up here and being an addition of a player that we can use and feel comfortable with on the ice in any situation. You think about some of the roles that he’s had. He has been on the power play, he has played with Mika [Zibanejad] and [Chris Kreider], he has been on a checking line.
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“He’s a smart guy. He’s got great speed on the ice. He’s a terrific person. And to add a guy like that that is part of the troops that are going out on the ice, especially on a playoff run, that’s a nice piece to have.”
Appearing in a career-high 57 games for the Rangers this season, Brodzinski came as close to being a regular NHL skater than he has in his entire career.
He racked up six goals and dished 13 assists for 19 points in that span, which also counted as a career high.
“I’m just going out there and playing my game,” Brodzinski said. “I’ve done this enough times that this is my hockey now. Just go out there, do what I can. I’m going to play a fast, physical game. Hopefully put some pucks to the net and see a couple go in.”
Blake Wheeler did not participate in the Rangers’ morning skate because the veteran wing is banged up, according to a source.
As a result, the Rangers brought in Anton Blidh, who played in one game for the team this season, to skate with the main group.
Jimmy Vesey also skated in a red non-contact jersey with the Rangers on Saturday morning.
