If the Rangers did not have a sense of urgency to find a solid backup for Henrik Lundqvist to reduce his workload, hearing his comments should have the team scrambling for the phone. Playing 73 games and the Olympics took it's toll on Hank and one has to wonder if the cumulative effect of all those games resulted in a goal that cost the Rangers the playoffs?
"The inside of my knee was bothering me for the last month of the season," Lundqvist told
Newsday Thursday. "The outside had bothered me before, and this time it was the inside. I had it taped and started getting other treatment right after the season. Nothing invasive, mostly rest. Now I've been skating two or three times a week without equipment."
While that comment is disconcerting, his follow-up was even more bothersome. "If it [the knee] bothers me again in mid-August. I'll get a cortisone shot." Why, after having several months off, should the knee bother him or flare-up? Is it a structural issue that can be taken of via minor surgery or a muscular issue that will continue to bother Hank going forward? The answer to this is key as given the state of our current backups, a healthy Lundqvist is tantamount.
The Rangers need to sign someone like Martin Biron, Johan Hedberg or Alex Auld, who can play 20 games and step in longer if needed. One also has to wonder if the teams views Lundqvist's condition as one that will plague him and reduce his effectiveness in the future, which could put someone like Jeff Campbell in play during the draft.
First and foremost, the team needs to get a good sense as to what's causing the injury and resolve it over the summer. If it's wear-and-tear and can be managed, great. If not, then act accordingly and don't leave teh sqaud shorthanded as it was much of the year.
New York Rangers Blogger • 
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