Alex Belzile, a winger for the New York Rangers, recently earned financial compensation despite being a healthy scratch in a game against the Montreal Canadiens. Belzile, who signed with the Rangers as a free agent after spending four years in the Montreal organization, is currently on a two-way contract. This means he earns $775,000 at the NHL level and $450,000 in the AHL. However, next season his contract will become a one-way deal.
Belzile’s recall to the NHL was due to his impressive performance in the AHL with the Hartford Wolf Pack. He leads the team in points with 37, including 14 goals and 23 assists. Head coach Peter Laviolette praised Belzile’s performance in Hartford but acknowledged that the winger hasn’t had many opportunities to showcase his skills in the NHL.
Belzile is not the only forward who has been recalled from the Wolf Pack this season. He joins a list of players such as Jonny Brodzinski, Adam Edstrom, Brennan Othmann, Jake Leschyshyn, Riley Nash, Matt Rempe, and Anton Blidh. Some of these players have only played one or a few games, while others have not gotten into a game at all.
In other news, goaltender Jonathan Quick recorded his fourth straight victory in his first start since February 7th. Quick, who allowed four goals on 35 shots, has a record of 13-4-2. Meanwhile, Igor Shesterkin is slated to start in the upcoming outdoor game against the New York Islanders.
Defenseman Adam Fox had an impressive performance with four assists in the game against the Canadiens. This is the second time in his career that he has recorded four assists in a single game, joining the ranks of Brian Leetch and Brad Park as the only defensemen in franchise history to achieve this feat multiple times.
The Rangers also made a contract extension with defenseman Brandon Scanlin. The 24-year-old lefty, who was signed as an undrafted free agent in 2022, has recorded 14 points in 43 games for the Wolf Pack. His extension includes a $775,000 NHL salary each year, with the AHL salary increasing from $200,000 to $225,000 in the second year.
Finally, the game between the Rangers and the Canadiens saw an interesting moment when Brandon Gignac’s goal was waved off due to a high stick. Despite this, Gignac celebrated with his teammates on the bench.
Overall, the game showcased the depth of the Rangers’ roster with players like Belzile and Scanlin making contributions both on and off the ice. With talented players like Fox and Quick also performing well, the Rangers are poised for success as they continue their season.
