The New York Rangers’ season could be at risk after Tuesday’s devastating injury news. The brutal news involves two of the club’s most valuable pieces.
The Rangers have placed defenseman Adam Fox on LTIR, with goalie Igor Shesterkin going on regular IR, Peter Baugh of The Athletic reported.
The news does not come at a good time. Hours after Rangers owner James Dolan pledged his support for the team, the club lost two key pieces. In particular, Shesterkin’s injury has to be the most devastating for the team.
So, the question begs: What happens to the Rangers at this point? What does GM Chris Drury do moving forward?
The next moves depend on how long Shesterkin could be out. In a bit of good news, ESPN’s Emily Kaplan reported that Shesterkin could have avoided the worst of his lower-body injury. Still, that scenario does not guarantee that the Rangers’ netminder will be back anytime soon.
However the Rangers goalie will go on IR with a lower body injury. He will continue to be evaluated.
In the meantime, the Blueshirts will turn to Jonathan Quick and Dylan Garand. That’s not exactly the most encouraging tandem moving forward. But it’s what the Rangers will have to deal with as they look to salvage their season.
As for Fox, the Blueshirt’s top defenseman has already missed significant time. It’s uncertain if his return to LTIR is related to his previous shoulder injury. The likelihood, nevertheless, is pretty clear that it is.
The Rangers are currently down forwards J.T. Miller, Conor Sheary, and Noah Laba.
Rangers Trade Deadline Plans Could Drastically Shift amid Injuries
In light of the current string of injuries, what could happen to the Rangers’ trade deadline plans?
The Rangers are most likely in a holding pattern at the moment. The uncertainty surrounding Shesterkin’s injury could have Drury’s hands tied. If Shesterkin returns soon enough, and the Rangers remain in the playoff hunt, Drury could pull the trigger.
But if both Shesterkin and Fox miss considerable time, Drury may be compelled to push back from the table and call it a season. While that may not mean holding a fire sale, the Rangers could be quiet at the trade deadline.
With two first-round picks and four in the first three rounds of a very deep draft, the Rangers might just hold onto their cards and see what the future holds at the 2026 NHL Draft.
Spencer Martin Recalled from AHL
In an insurance move, the Rangers recalled Spencer Martin from the AHL. Martin, who signed as a free agent this past offseason, will back up Quick in the team’s next game. While the expectation was that Garand would get the nod, the club likely wants to get a look at Martin.
The Blueshirts will host the Buffalo Sabres on Thursday night. Quick should get the start in that game. With several off-days in between games, the Rangers may not need their backup until some point next week to give Quick a break.
Martin could get a start next Monday against the Seattle Kraken, a team that has been circling the drain the last month or so.
It remains unclear just how much coach Mike Sullivan will lean on Quick. The veteran netminder could hold down the fort for the foreseeable future, though.
Rangers Season Could Be Done after Losing Stars