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Jackson Dorrington entered his first Rangers rookie camp still getting acclimated to the organization.
The 21-year-old defenseman was traded to the Rangers in January as part of the J.T. Miller reunion trade with Vancouver. He was signed to a three-year entry-level contract in March and reported to Hartford to play in the AHL for the remainder of the year.
He only played nine games in Connecticut and hadn’t played a game since April.
The two games against the Flyers in the weeklong rookie camp helped build confidence for Dorrington as the Rangers training camp kicks off Thursday with veterans and rookies competing for roster spots.
“It’s huge. First two games since April. So, knock the rust off is great,” Dorrington said Monday. “I mean, as a team, things could have went better. But yeah, same here, just knocking rust off and kind of finding my groove and then, hopefully, next game I’m feeling better than I did this weekend.”
The North Reading, Mass., native has seen a chunk of time on the ice during rookie camp, but Dorrington is still an unknown puzzle piece. He admitted he isn’t sure where the Rangers see him fitting in as a prospect.
“It’s not up to me to decide,” he said. “But if I play as well as I can, I think I can do good things.
“They’ve been great ever since I was traded over here. Helped me out a lot and, I mean, just going to training camp, just trying to do my best and exceed those expectations of what they, everyone, has for me, just do my best and see what happens.”
All he can know for certain is what he is: a hard-nosed defenseman with some offensive flair who is willing to do whatever it takes to win.
“[For] whoever I’m playing for,” he added.
With Hartford, Dorrington scored one goal and tallied one assist in the brief work he saw there before the offseason. Prior to joining the Rangers, the 2022 Canucks draft pick was an assistant captain in his third year at Northwestern University. He tallied two goals and 46 blocks, along with busting out a career-high 13 assists for a career-best 15 points.
While he wouldn’t put himself in the category of an offensive force, the 6-foot-1, 216-pound lefty is still showing his offensive ability in New York, scoring a goal to get the Rangers an early 2-0 lead Saturday.
“Yeah, it’s definitely good to get one early,” he said. “Hopefully, that kinda foreshadows for the season. But yeah, it definitely felt good.”
If Dorrington is placed in Hartford at the end of training camp, it’s an outcome that he is more than willing to use to learn.
To get himself in New York permanently and under the lights and in the atmosphere that Madison Square Garden offers, he is aware there needs to be something more.
More offensive aspects to his game are in the works and he aspires to “be reliable in all situations.”
For now, Dorrington will be where his feet are, soaking in his new team and navigating where he fits as he learns more about becoming a Ranger.
“Playing the games is great for camp just to get me game ready and in game shape, but yeah, I mean, just interacting with all the guys kind of building relationships with guys that I haven’t met before and the staff has been great,” he said. “So, I’m excited for what’s to come.”
