NY Rangers Reverse Roster Move: Jaroslav Chmelař Recalled, Taylor Raddysh Reassigned

Rangers Reverse Course: Chmelař Returns to New York as Raddysh Heads to Hartford

The New York Rangers have officially undone their October 16 roster maneuver, recalling forward Jaroslav Chmelař from the Hartford Wolf Pack and reassigning Taylor Raddysh to the AHL affiliate. The move, announced by the team on November 2, arrives as the front office looks to stabilize a roster currently weathering a difficult four-game losing streak.

This reversal is more than a simple transaction; it is a direct response to a slide that saw the Rangers fall 4-1 to the Edmonton Oilers at Madison Square Garden on November 1. That loss marked the team’s sixth defeat in their last seven outings, a sobering turn of events following a promising start to the 2026-27 campaign. As Hudson River Blue noted, this kind of tactical backpedaling is rarely seen without high-level internal scrutiny, suggesting that the team’s bottom-six composition remains a fluid, pressurized work in progress.

The Statistical Case for the Swap

The decision to swap Chmelař and Raddysh reflects the divergent paths both players have taken since mid-October. Chmelař, 23, returns to the NHL lineup despite being held scoreless in his seven appearances for the Rangers earlier this season. While his offensive production in the NHL has yet to materialize, his stint in Hartford provided a needed spark. According to Yardbarker, the 6’5″, 238-lb winger recorded two goals and four points in seven AHL games with a plus-3 rating. His physical utility is well-documented: last season, he delivered 53 hits while maintaining an on-ice save percentage of 90.8% at even strength.

Jaroslav Chmelar has been recalled from the Hartford Wolf Pack. Taylor Raddysh has been assigned to the Hartford Wolf Pack.

— https://x.com/NYR_PR/status/2117377465001677093

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Taylor Raddysh, meanwhile, heads back to the Wolf Pack for the second time this season. The 28-year-old veteran, who has 373 NHL games of experience to his name, struggled to carve out a consistent role during this latest call-up. Averaging just 7:34 of ice time over six games, Raddysh managed one assist and three shots on goal. His return to Hartford is not just a performance-based decision; it is a strategic one involving future roster flexibility. Having played six games since his October 16 recall, Raddysh is nearing waiver eligibility once again, meaning any subsequent promotion will require the team to carefully manage his runway on the NHL roster.

Rebuilding the Bottom Six Under Mike Sullivan

The shuffle is part of a broader tactical overhaul led by head coach Mike Sullivan. Ahead of the team’s Tuesday, November 3, matchup against the St. Louis Blues, Sullivan has been actively reworking his lines to inject more grit and forechecking pressure into the bottom of the order. At Monday’s practice, Will Cuylle was shifted to center a line flanked by Oliver Bjorkstrand and Eeli Tolvanen—a notable experiment given that Cuylle has no prior experience at the center position at any level of professional hockey.

NY Rangers Reverse Roster Move: Jaroslav Chmelař Recalled, Taylor Raddysh Reassigned — Photo: headlinesplus.com

Noah Laba, who previously held down third-line center duties, has been moved to the fourth line. Sullivan characterized Laba’s early-season performance as a “mixed bag,” signaling that the coaching staff is looking for more consistency as they attempt to halt a five-game slide. The new-look fourth line, which features Laba, Matt Rempe, and a rotating Luke Glendening, is clearly designed to be a heavier, more aggressive unit capable of wearing down opposing defenses.

The Rangers’ HUGE Decision On Alberts Smits & Jaroslav Chmelar…

The Rangers have changed their minds about the October 16 trade, and that kind of reversal rarely happens without someone in the front office losing a little sleep.

The stakes for this adjustment are immediate. The St. Louis Blues arrive at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday with a 7-6-1 record, looking to capitalize on the Rangers’ current vulnerability. For the Rangers, the return of Chmelař is an attempt to restore the physical identity that was missing during their recent slide. Whether this personnel shift provides the necessary correction for a team that has struggled to find its footing remains the central question heading into Tuesday night’s 7:00 p.m. ET puck drop.