Rangers forced to change groupings with more players absent from camp

New York Rangers, Artemi Panarin
Dec 12, 2019; San Jose, CA, USA; New York Rangers center Ryan Strome (16) celebrates after his teammate left wing Artemi Panarin (10), not pictured, scored his side's sixth goal during the third period at SAP Center in San Jose. Mandatory Credit: Cody Glenn-USA TODAY Sports

Relax New York Rangers fans, though some big names were missing from practice on Wednesday, the vague explanations do not seem to reflect a Covid-19 issue.

When the New York Rangers hit the ice for practice yesterday a very noticeable smile was missing from the group. Artemi Panarin and Libor Hajek both sat out practice yesterday due to what Newsday reporter Colin Stephenson wrote as “procedural issues.”

They joined Mika Zibanejad, Justin Richards, and Keith Kinkaid, who has yet to practice this season, as the group who sat out Wednesday’s practice.

Quinn believes both Panarin and Hajek will be back on the ice for Thursday’s practice and scrimmage game.

Line Changes

Davis Quinn has been able to get some good looks at players with the absence of players who would normally fill out the lineup.  Wednesday say a reshuffling of group A with Brett Howden centering, Chris Kreider, and Pavel Buchnevich (Howden took Zibanejad’s place).

Ryan Strome centering Philip Di Giuseppe and Kaapo Kakko, Filip Chytil in the middle of Alexis Lafreniere and Julien Gauthier and Kevin Rooney centering Morgan Barron and Colin Blackwell.  Brendan Lemieux was the extra forward.

The defense pairings, four in all,  had Tony DeAngelo/Jacob Trouba, Ryan Lindgren/Adam Fox, Jack Johnson/Anthony Bitetto, and K’Andre Miller/Brendan Smith.

Alexandar Georgiev and Igor Shesterkin were the two goalies in the A group.

Missing Time A Concern

The Rangers have to be a little concerned with the time Zibanejad has missed already. General manager Jeff Gorton has announced prior to the start of camp that he was listed as day-to-day before camp started.

That has remained the status-quo with the club not detailing anything on the centers status. it is unknown when he will be able to get back on the ice or what his actual injury is.

 

The Rangers are back to work on Thursday which includes a night scrimmage between the two groups.

  • 10:30 a.m. – Group B pre-game skate
  • 11:45 a.m. – Group A pre-game skate
  • 7:00 p.m. – Scrimmage between Group A and Group B