Penalty box, press box with injury, close enough.

Penalty box, press box with injury, close enough.

The Rangers went on a low-risk spending spree this summer, bringing in veterans Matt Lombardi, Lee Stempniak, and Ryan Malone. Some questioned this initially –Stempniak not so much– as the Rangers have a lot of kids ready to take spots in the lineup. However, more competition is good. Competition breeds improvement.

But now, two of those veterans have seen injuries cut into training camp and preaseason games. First Malone went down last week with a hip flexor injury after a strong-ish (he fatigued at the end) performance in the preseason opener against the Devils. He missed out on practices, didn’t play Friday and won’t play today. Meanwhile, Lombardi just went down with a groin injury after an unimpressive game on Monday. He was slated to go tonight, but he’s been scratched last-minute.

Less than a week into the preseason, and two vets brought in on low-risk deals are on the shelf. What will that say about their long-term durability?

Neither Lombardi nor Malone were brought into the mix guaranteed a roster spot, despite what many fans –and beat writers– thought. J.T. Miller was always destined for the third line center role, Lombardi was just an insurance policy. Stempniak, Tanner Glass, or any of the kids were slated for the 3RW/4LW/4RW spots. Malone was just an insurance policy, like Lombardi.

This isn’t to say that neither will suit up for the Rangers, it’s entirely likely both will at some point. However, kids are blowing past them in camp. We’ve already seen Miller lap the field. Kevin Hayes, Marek Hrivik, and Oscar Lindberg outperformed Lombardi and outlasted Malone. Jesper Fast has already shown he can handle the NHL game. Alain Vigneault was always going to allow the better player take the spot.

But now it seems that Malone and Lombardi have catching up to do. Both need to stay healthy at a bare minimum. Malone needs to then build on his strong performance, while Lombardi needs to be downright impressive in the final week of preseason. But if these guys can’t stay healthy during camp and preseason games against half-rosters, what makes us think they will stay healthy during the grueling NHL season?

If they stay healthy (and play at an elevated level, still unseen), then it really gives the Rangers some nice depth at both the NHL and AHL levels. Plus, it’s always nice to have an extra body in case there’s a significant, cough, Derek Stepan, cough, injury.

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