The primary focus for the Rangers at the trade deadline was to add critical forward and defense depth. While one of the goals was to add actual scoring depth to the starting lineup, it was also to add injury depth for the playoffs. Now with the Rangers playoffs injuries starting to mount, that deadline success has been emphasized even more.
Rangers playoffs injuries mounting
Before the playoffs even started, Tyler Motte was hurt and there is no indication when he will return. Following Game 1, the Rangers lost Barclay Goodrow to a lower body injury, and he is week to week. That’s a pair of fourth liners down just two games into the postseason.
Ryan Lindgren is the other big injury to hit the Rangers. He missed most of Game 1 and didn’t dress for Game 2. He is considered day to day, but there is no guarantee he will play Game 3. Defense depth may not have been a huge focus, but the addition of Justin Braun put a body between an injury and needing to use Libor Hajek in a game.
Rangers playoffs injuries were going to happen. It was a foregone conclusion. But we had hoped we were going to survive at least one game before they were down three players.
Additions preventing bad players from entering the lineup
The key point with the deadline adds was to avoid playing guys we’ve been complaining about. Without the addition of Braun, it’s Hajek –not Zac Jones– that gets the start with Adam Fox. Braun is an actual NHL defenseman who was playing top four minutes for most of his career. Don’t discount how important it is to have Braun over Hajek with Fox.
The Lindgren injury is the key one, but when you start losing fourth liners, you start playing guys you don’t want to play. Luckily for the Rangers, Dryden Hunt has been their 14F post deadline, with Ryan Reaves as the 13F. Both are actual NHL players (mostly). Next in line is likely Julien Gauthier, who with all his scoring faults, does drive play offensively and defensively. Most importantly, Greg McKegg had 3 bodies between him and the lineup.
We like to focus on who is in the lineup daily, Copp and Vatrano specifically, but it’s the injury depth that has taken center stage in the playoffs. The Rangers playoffs injuries could have put them in a precarious position, but instead they are still skating with and even with the Penguins through Game 2.
With the Rangers playoffs injuries mounting, there is now a bit of a need to keep everyone else healthy. In game injuries are going to happen, so it’s more about managing bumps and bruises and giving big minute players much needed rest. A 3OT game to kick things off doesn’t really help matters, of course.
It’s the playoffs, and we know players will play through most small things. So for something to keep Goodrow out for weeks likely means something structural happened. Pain management is one thing, structural is another. This logic can also be applied to Lindgren, who is day to day.
Who gets in next?
Now a fun question to ask is who gets in next should there be additional Rangers playoffs injuries. Will the Rangers go to Jones over Hajek? Will it be Gauthier and not McKegg?
I think part of this depends on what kind of player gets hurt. With Lindgren, a primarily defensive defenseman, it made sense for Braun to dress. If it’s a defenseman that provides offense, it may be Zac Jones who draws into the lineup over Hajek.
From a forwards perspective, it gets dicey. Dryden Hunt has played top six minutes, for better or for worse, so perhaps the simple answer is to move him up if need be, and then insert McKegg. That said, Gauthier’s style of play might be better suited for the Penguins, who have trouble matching size and physical play.
The big key is managing these Rangers playoffs injuries and hope players return sooner rather than later. The Rangers haven’t been at full strength all year, and it would be nice to see the expected lineup for more than just a game or two. Especially in the playoffs.
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