The Rangers return to action Sunday in a 12:30 contest against the Red Wings. New York comes in off a solid 5-2 win over the Maple Leafs on Thursday and will have Henrik Lundqvist between the pipes again. Detroit enters the game off a 3-2 overtime loss to Buffalo on Friday and are 4-0-1 in their last five contests.
The Rangers will probably go with the same lineup we saw Thursday. Jesper Fast is out likely to the All-Star break with his upper body injury, replaced by Oscar Lindberg. Matt Puempel, out since December 31 with his second concussion in three weeks, practiced fully Saturday after just getting cleared for contact. He likely will remain out of the lineup on Sunday. The only real possibly of him playing is if Mats Zuccarello, who left practice early for what the team called “maintenance,” due to a slight injury that occurred on a Roman Polak trip late Thursday, is unable to go. Zucc looked like he took a knee to the thigh or knee to knee hit earlier in that game as well, but returned to action. So look for him to go. It's possible Puempel gets in for Vesey, who has hit a bit of a wall and seen his ice time drop substantially of late, or Pirri, but those are remote likelihoods.
Vesey will need to fight his way through this slump and should benefit from the All-Star break, but that will be the final extended break before the run to the playoffs. The mental game, as Larry Brooks pointed out, is just as grinding as the physical game. On ice, Thursday was the 45th regular-season game Vesey had played, in addition to four games in preseason and four games at the Traverse City rookie tournament. Last season at Harvard, he played 33 games in a college career of 128, so you see just how big of a jump in action this year for Vesey. With the team getting healthier, Vesey - who has just one goal in his last 16th games on New Year's Eve - could be at risk of sitting as a healthy scratch.
Kreider-Stepan-Zuccarello
Nash-Zibanejad-Buchnevich
Grabner-Hayes-Miller
Vesey-Lindberg-Pirri
Defensively, Marc Staal skated by himself again Saturday as he continues to recover from post-concussion symptoms that have kept him out since Jan. 3. The hope probably is that Staal can be ready after the All-Star break January 31 versus Columbus at home. As a result, the six d-men we have seen since January 3 is who we will see the next three games.
Ryan McDonagh-Dan Girardi
Nick Holden-Kevin Klein
Brady Skeji-Adam Clendening
A pair of blogs on Clendening lately. The Rangers site, not surprisingly, praises Clendening for his recent play with the d-man noting that his improved play corresponds with consistent ice time. In addition, he and Skjei play off each other well because of their skating ability. On the flip side, Full Tilt Rangers pointed out that Clendening sees sheltered minutes, as evidenced by his starting 23.3% of his shits in the d-zone while matched up against weaker players. Which is true? How about both. Yes, Clendening is sheltered, but part of this is likely due to who the presumptive top-four are and how AV deploys McD-G and Holden-Klein, which in the past was Holden-Staal. But, AV is likely using him in that manner to play to his strengths. Those strengths are his puck-moving ability, and knowing you will be out there in each game, allows you take more chances or play to your strengths.
The trade rumor mill is starting up in earnest:
On the Shattenkirk front, several whispers that his availability is now becoming more and more likely. As we have discussed, what are you willing to part with now to get him? Especially since if you can sign him now, it makes little sense due to the expansion protection rules. Are you willing to deal JT Miller and a #1? Plus, will New York sign him for 6-7 years at $6.5-7 mil annually? Shattenkirk would be a perfect fit but the cost might be too prohibitive.
1/19/17: 7:01PM: Shattenkirk is reportedly willing to consider multiple options, in regards to a possible trade and extension, including Toronto, Rangers, Boston, San Jose, Colorado, Detroit or Anaheim. (TSN)
Elliotte Friedman noted on Thursday that "rightly or wrongly" there is a belief that Shattenkirk wants to sign with the Rangers. (FanRag)
1/18/17 | 3:26PM: Pierre LeBrun writes that St. Louis may have changed their stance regarding Shattenkirk and could look to trade him before the deadline. (ESPN)
Steve Zipay wrote that Ottawa is looking for young forwards and will want to make room for Thomas Chabot, who was brilliant in the World Juniors.He speculates that maybe a deal could be made for Cody Ceci, who is signed through next year at $2.8 mil. Ceci has been okay not great this year, as seen in some of his metrics. So, is he a true upgrade to what New York currently has?
Larry Brooks threw some shade in his column today. "This just in: The Rangers have announced they intended to take Ryan Getzlaf with the 12th overall pick of the 2003 Entry Draft." Talk about piling on way after the ship has sailed.
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