How Rangers’ Jonny Brodzinski landed on SportsCenter Top-10 during offseason

It’s not even hockey season yet, but New York Rangers center Jonny Brodzinski still found a way to get himself featured on ESPN.

The 31-year-old landed on SportsCenter’s Top-10 plays with a slick pass during a summer hockey league game back home in Minnesota. Playing for Team Walser in Da Beauty League, featuring professional and collegiate players from the area, Brodzinski made a spinning pass from behind the net to set up a goal by Ottawa Senators defenseman Jacob Bernard-Docker.

Despite being hounded by a defender, Brodzinski carried the puck behind the net, then turned on a dime and zipped a pass into the slot, where Bernard-Docker slipped in all alone. The bang-bang play landed Brodzinski No. 4 on ESPN’s Top-10 list.

“August hockey. There’s nothing better,” deadpanned the ESPN announcer as the video ran.

Brodzinski later also scored a goal, but Walser lost to Team TRIA 10-5.

WATCH: Ryan Lindgren in mid-season form at Da Beauty League

Jonny Brodzinski appears primed for Rangers training camp

It’s been quite the summer for Brodzinski, who landed a two-year, $1.58 million contract extension with the Rangers this past season. He’s sixth in Da Beauty League scoring this summer with 17 points (five goals, 12 assists), 11 behind leader Erik Haula of the New Jersey Devils, who has 28.

Of course it should be noted that this summer league is a wide-open 4-on-4 format, where defense is optional. But it’s still good to the Rangers forward perform well … and land in ESPN’s highlights.

Brodzinski will be packing up soon to head East for the new season. Training camp begins in three weeks and Brodzinski is in the mix for a spot on the fourth line and more likely the leader for the 13th forward slot on the NHL roster.

Last season, Brodzinski appeared in an NHL career-high 57 games with the Blueshirts. He had six goals and 19 points after starting the season with Hartford in the American Hockey League, where he was captain.

Brodzinski also played in three Stanley Cup Playoff games this past spring and was held without a point.

By Jim Cerny

Jim Cerny is Executive Editor at Forever Blueshirts and Managing Editor at Sportsnaut, with more than 30 years of... More about Jim Cerny