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New York Rangers Forward Reflects On Controversial Move Made By Head Coach Mike Sullivan
Photo credit: Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images
New York Rangers 24-year old forward opens up on Mike Sullivans latest controversial decision for the 2025-26 season.
Since the New York Rangers Training Camp this season, head coach Mike Sullivan made the ultimate decision to move 24-year old forward Juuso Parssinen from Center to the Wing.
Something many fans didn't expect, but with an extra spot open on the third line, Mike Sullivan confessed that Parssinen would be given an opportunity to earn that spot, the same opportunity as everyone else.
«I would envision Parssinen be given a significant opportunity,» Sullivan said. «When we think about if you build a criteria around the types of players that we're going to build an identity that I just described, we think Parssinen has a lot of those attributes.»
Unfortunately for Parssinen, he failed to secure a position on the third-line and found himself serving as a healthy scratch on opening-night. But has managed to play five out of the nine last games for the Rangers this season on the Wing instead of at center.
Juuso Parssinen Speaks Out On Mike Sullivan's Decision To Switch His Position In The Lineup
Following Parssinen's time with the Rangers this season on the Wing, he has spoken out and shared his experience on making the switch.
«The first time I played like three years ago, during my first or second year, that was hard because I literally never had played wing before,» Parssinen said. «As I've gotten the reps in these past few years, it's just about being comfortable seeing the game like how it is on playing wing. At the end of the day, it is a small difference at center or wing. These past few years, the more I played wing, the more comfortable I got, and now, I feel like I can play wing too.»
However, the 24-year old forward has yet to earn himself a consistent role with the Rangers, and has been in and out of the lineups but he knows that every time he gets the chance to play with the Rangers he must elevate his level of play and make it count.
«If you want to get a rhythm, if you are in and out (of the lineup), of course it makes it more difficult, but that's never an excuse to not be ready to play,» Parssinen said. «I have to perform, it's never gonna be an excuse that I haven't played.»
hopefully he can continue to keep up the the good work as he has managed to tally two goals and one assists in five game thus far.
Previously on NY Hockey Insider
| POLL | ||
OCTOBRE 24 | 99 ANSWERS New York Rangers Forward Reflects On Controversial Move Made By Head Coach Mike Sullivan Do you think Juuso Parssinen is better off on the Wing or at Center? | ||
| Center | 21 | 21.2 % |
| Wing | 60 | 60.6 % |
| Neither | 18 | 18.2 % |
| List of polls | ||
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