New York returned to practice Sunday. The NHL postponed three additional contests and announced slight revisions to the CBA to allow for a taxi squad, but game action is still slated to resume Tuesday. Results of the four Rangers' prospects yesterday as the WJC began, Blueshirts saw one d-man come off the COVID-19 protocol list and another go on today.
Following the holiday break, the Rangers returned to practice Sunday. New York announced yesterday that three players were added to the COVID-19 protocol list. Monday, Nemeth came off but Jarred Tinordi went on. As of noon Monday, New York has six healthy blueliners - Fox, Trouba, Miller, Lundkvist, Nemeth and Hà¡jek - with game action slated for Wednesday against Florida.
Larry Brooks tweeted Monday: "Wolf Pack undergoing COVID testing today. Rangers expected to recall D after results are known." Could we see Zac Jones for Wednesday or will it be Anthony Bitetto? If the six above play, are we looking at Hajek-Fox, Miller-Trouba and Lundkvist-Nemeth against the Panthers? Call up Jones, let him play Wednesday and Friday and see what he brings.
With Alexandar Georgiev sidelined, the Rangers called back up Keith Kinkaid. Due to the extended break, look for Igor Shesterkin to be between the pipes versus Florida and Tampa Bay. After Sunday's contest, the Rangers come home to take on the Lightning again and Oilers on back-to-back days, Sunday and Monday. Will coach Gerard Gallant and Benoit Allaire have Igor play all four games or sit him at least one, likely from the back-to-back?
UPDATE: Three #NYR are in the NHL’s Covid protocol:
— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) December 26, 2021
D Patrik Nemeth
D Ryan Lindgren
G Alexandar Georgiev
The NHL, as we kind of figured, announced six player taxi squads yesterday. But, the price of the puzzle that is maddening and has to make you wonder what the heck Don Fehr and NHLPA are doing, is what Frank Seravalli added to the puzzle. Please explain to me why the NHLPA is bearing the cost of this, which I believe in essence raises the escrow owed to the league, potentially extending the period for repayment, impacting when the cap can rise.
One can only hope the PA got some downstream concessions from the league. If not, a move like this is headshaking, since the owners most certainly benefit as well from having "readily available players" in case of absence. The challenging part will be to see who is on those squads. Are they veterans or prospects and do you look to win in the AHL, so it's C and D type players or A or B rated ones who can more easily step into action? For New York, would it be Morgan Barron or Tim Gettinger?
The @NHL, @NHLPA agree to temporary changes to CBA, including reintroduction of taxi squads; three additional games postponed.
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) December 27, 2021
Full Details: https://t.co/A2XIXRM2yX pic.twitter.com/hcUzfPJEhh
2) Seems the cost for most everything - emergency recalls, taxi squad stipends and taxi squad benefits - will be borne by the #NHLPA by virtue of the "Players' Share."
— Frank Seravalli (@frank_seravalli) December 27, 2021
In other words - it's part of players' 50% share of revenue pie, which will add to debt owed to owners.
NYR at the WJC: Kalle Vaisanen, Finland 0 SOG 18 Shifts 11:38 TOI
Will Cuylle Canada 2 SOG 17 Shifts 11:10 TOI (fairly nondescript game)
Dylan Garand Canada 1-0 14 0f 17 0.824 SV% 3.00 GAA (slow start, down 3-1 early before Canada came to life. Shut down Czechia the final 47:37 of the game)
Brett Berard USA 5 SOG 14 Shifts 13:56 TOI (lots of shots and showed good chemistry with Matt Beniers again, as expected, but didn't drive play)