When the Rangers acquired Wojtek Wolski, they added to their forward depth that has been decimated by injuries. Kris Newbury, called up earlier this week in the wake of the Alex Frolov injury, will likely be returned to the CT Whale before the next game, leaving the Rangers with 12 healthy forwards. With Ryan Callahan and Vinny Prospal skating, and aiming for a return after the All-Star break, the Rangers are looking at a logjam of forwards.

Dale Weise will likely be returned to the AHL when Callahan comes back, giving the Rangers 12 healthy forwards that will be clicking. At that point the next person to return, likely to be Prospal, will force someone to the bench. If it is Prospal that returns, it’s tough to say who comes out of the lineup, but that’s a different story for a different post. If it is Christensen who returns first, what’s to say he goes directly back into the lineup?

This is not a Christensen hate post. This is simply a question of where he fits in after he returns from injury. He had been playing on the 4th line for some time now, and barely contributing offensively. Sure, he’s a shootout wizard, but there are 65 minutes of hockey to be played before the shootout. Mats Zuccarello-Aasen has proved he belongs in the NHL, so it does not look like he will be going anywhere soon. I personally do not see the coaching staff scratching anyone in the current lineup for Christensen. Christensen’s injury may have inadvertently ended his time with the Rangers.

Share: 

Mentioned in this article:

More About: