SEATTLE — Two weeks and five games since he last saw game action, Jonny Brodzinski was back in the Rangers lineup Sunday night in their 2-0 win over the Kraken.
The 31-year-old knows the drill. He’s lived by it his whole professional hockey career.
Filip Chytil went down in a collision with K’Andre Miller in a game against the Sharks earlier this week and was unable to fly with the team Saturday, as the Czech center underwent further evaluation for his upper-body injury.
Like when Chytil went down just over a year ago, Brodzinski knew it meant he’d be the next man up.
It can’t matter that Brodzinski hasn’t played since Nov. 1.
He knows that better than anyone, as a player who has filled a depth role for much of his nine-year career bouncing between the AHL and NHL.
“I feel like as I’ve progressed in my career, the more I’ve been out, the more ready I’ve been to come back in the lineup,” Brodzinski said Sunday morning, before he recorded two shots on goal and blocked one shot in the win at Climate Pledge Arena. “Days off, stuff like that, I’m doing a lot more extra on the ice to stay ready.
“So that when I do come back into the lineup, it’s seamless. I’ve been ready this whole time. Transition should be very seamless.”
Brodzinski said he plans to do exactly what he did last year when he re-entered the lineup amid a Chytil injury: Try to produce with Will Cuylle and Kaapo Kakko.
The three skaters played on a 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 out-attempted 56-49 but finished with an even 22-22 showing in high-danger chances.
“They’ve played well in the past before, with him plugging in there,” head 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 somewhat seamless for him, and that line has given us good minutes in the past.”
The ripple effect from the loss of Chytil also has created an opportunity for Cuylle.
With Chytil still back in New York, a spot on the second power-play unit was suddenly up for grabs.
During morning skate Sunday, Cuylle took the first few reps at bumper, while captain Jacob Trouba rotated in up top. The Rangers, however, didn’t earn any power plays in the win, so Cuylle will have to wait for his next chance with the man-advantage.
“It’s a good opportunity for me,” Cuylle told The Post from inside the visiting locker room Sunday morning. “It’s all about just getting a chance whenever you can. I think hopefully I can get out there during a game and try to do my best, see what happens.”
According to the AHL transactions page, the Hartford Wolf Pack released Adam Erne from his PTO.
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