The Rangers didn’t have to wait long to see traded defenseman Carson Soucy, who switched sides in their rivalry with the Islanders just in time to take part in a home-and-home series against his former team.
“That is kind of unique, I guess. That doesn’t happen very often,” Rangers coach Mike Sullivan said of Wednesday’s front end on Long Island. “Seuss is a great person. I think he was a good Ranger. He competed hard. He and I had a conversation, and that’s what we talked about. I enjoyed working with him, and he’s a good pro.
“This is just part of the game and the reality of where we’re at.”
The Rangers, who own the worst record in the 16-team Eastern Conference, dealt the 31-year-old Soucy to the Islanders on Monday night in exchange for a 2026 third-round pick.
He was just the first of other potential moves by general manager Chris Drury sure to follow before the March 6 trade deadline.
“I just think this is a situation where it affects players like Seuss that’s a little bit older, and Chris is obviously trying to retool this team to get us a little bit younger and more competitive here moving forward,” Sullivan added.
Sullivan was pleased with the play of forward Matt Rempe in Monday’s 4-3 overtime win over Boston, his first action in more than two weeks due to lingering effects of the left thumb injury he initially suffered in October.
The fourth liner recorded two shots and two hits in 8:43 of ice time.
“Our medical team obviously works with him daily. They monitor his strength, his fitness, all of those things,” Sullivan said. “And then obviously, Remps has to have a comfort level of where he’s at and when he feels a lot stronger and more comfortable so that he can make an impact.
“I thought he did [Monday] night.”
