- According to NHL.com’s Dan Rosen, New York Rangers center Filip Chytil is not taking warmups this evening ahead of the team’s game against the Chicago Blackhawks, as he’s dealing with a lower-body injury. It’s unclear how Chytil suffered the injury, but fortunately for the Rangers, it appears he’s considered just day-to-day. Chytil currently has 11 points in 19 games so far this season, one that’s quickly becoming a breakout affair for the 23-year-old.
Rangers Rumors
Rangers Assign Zac Jones To AHL, Recall Jonny Brodzinski And Ben Harpur
December 4: Just a day after they recalled him, the Rangers announced they’ve re-assigned Brodzinski to the Hartford Wolf Pack, their AHL affiliate. While the Rangers did play last night, hosting the Chicago Blackhawks, Brodzinski did not play in the game.
December 3: The Rangers have decided to make a few roster moves in advance of their game tonight against Chicago as the team announced (Twitter link) that they have assigned defenseman Zac Jones to Hartford of the AHL while recalling winger Jonny Brodzinski and defenseman Ben Harpur from the Wolf Pack.
Jones has been regarded as one of New York’s better defensive prospects and has played somewhat of a regular role this season, suiting up in 16 games with the Rangers. He has just a goal and an assist in those contests while logging 15:37 per game, good for fifth on the team among their blueliners. This move will give him a chance to play a much bigger role with Hartford which they’re hoping will be better for his development in the long run.
Replacing him on the depth chart in New York is Harpur, a veteran who is no stranger to being an extra on an NHL roster. The 27-year-old had his AHL deal converted to an NHL contract back in late October and has five points and 24 penalty minutes in 17 games with the Wolf Pack this season. Harpur has played in 53 games with Nashville over the past two seasons in a role that’s similar to the one that Jones has held this year.
As for Brodzinski, his recall is to cover for an undisclosed forward whose presence is uncertain for tonight’s game, relays Arthur Staple of The Athletic (Twitter link). The 29-year-old played in 22 games for the Rangers last season and has seen NHL action in each of the last six years. He has played exclusively with Hartford so far in 2022-23, picking up nine points in 17 contests.
Vancouver Canucks Recall Phillip Di Giuseppe
Nov 30: With Mikheyev fully back in the fold, Vancouver returned Di Giuseppe to Abbotsford Wednesday night, per the team.
Nov 29: After opting to waive him over a month ago, the Vancouver Canucks are bringing forward Phillip Di Giuseppe back up to the NHL. General manager Patrik Allvin announced his recall from the AHL’s Abbotsford Canucks Tuesday night.
Di Giuseppe comes to the NHL to potentially relieve Ilya Mikheyev, who could miss tonight’s game against the Washington Capitals with an illness. Both Di Giuseppe and Mikheyev were on the ice for warmups ahead of the game.
Now 29, Di Giuseppe is in his second year with the Canucks organization. He’s yet to score a goal this season in Abbotsford but does have five assists through seven games after approaching a point-per-game pace last season.
He has 201 games of NHL experience split between Carolina, Nashville, and the New York Rangers, and his a capable fourth-line plug-in when required.
As he has not spent more than 30 days on an NHL roster since clearing, Di Giuseppe will not require waivers again when the team opts to return him to Abbotsford.
Dan Belisle Passes Away At 85
Former Detroit Red Wings front office member Dan Belisle has passed away at age 85. The team released a statement announcing his passing Wednesday night.
While his name may not be well-known across hockey circles now, Belisle helped put together one of the greatest modern-day dynasties we’ve seen in the turn-of-the-century Red Wings. While Belisle last served as an assistant coach for the Red Wings in 1987, he stayed on with the team’s front office as a pro scout. He was vital in adding players via free agency that bolstered the 1997, 1998, and 2002 Stanley Cup-winning teams.
Belisle was also the head coach of the Washington Capitals for 1978-79 and part of the 1979-80 season. He also suited up in four NHL games, all in 1960-61 with the New York Rangers, scoring two goals.
PHR sends its best wishes to the Belisle family during this time.
Ryan Lindgren Taking Warmups, Could Play Against New Jersey
- Defenseman Ryan Lindgren took warmups for the New York Rangers tonight and could return from an upper-body injury against the New Jersey Devils, per NHL.com’s Dan Rosen. Lindgren left Saturday’s game against the Edmonton Oilers and was day-to-day but may avoid missing any time if he plays tonight.
Ryan Lindgren Day-To-Day With Upper-Body Injury
New York Rangers defenseman Ryan Lindgren is out day-to-day with an upper-body injury, according to Larry Brooks of the New York Post. Lindgren sustained the injury in a collision with an Edmonton Oilers player during yesterday’s loss.
The 24-year-old is a crucial defensive piece for the Rangers. While he’s averaged under 18 minutes per game this year, he remains on the team’s top defense pairing with Adam Fox. The Rangers’ defensive numbers are significantly worse without Lindgren in the lineup, and with the team just outside of a playoff spot post-Thanksgiving, they’ll need all hands on deck to avoid falling too far out of the race. Zachary Jones is the extra defenseman on the active roster.
Minnesota Wild Acquire Ryan Reaves
The Minnesota Wild have acquired Ryan Reaves from the New York Rangers, sending a 2025 fifth-round pick in return.
Reaves, 35, had been left out of the Rangers lineup for a good chunk of this season, suiting up only 12 times so far. According to Mollie Walker of the New York Post, his agent requested a trade while the team was in Los Angeles.
The move is a positive one for both sides. Reaves will get a better chance at playing time with the Wild, while the Rangers move out his entire $1.75MM cap hit. That gives them some much-needed cap flexibility, especially for a midseason acquisition later on.
There’s not much to explain about Reaves’ game. He is only a fourth-line option at this point in his career and likely shouldn’t be in the lineup every game. He does bring an immense physical presence and has plenty of experience in the Central Division from his time in St. Louis.
For Minnesota, one of the biggest disappointments in the early going, a change was needed. While an acquisition of Reaves isn’t exactly what many were expecting, he certainly will give their bottom six a different look.
Could Ryan Reaves Be A Waiver Candidate?
- For years, Rangers winger Ryan Reaves has been a consistent presence on the fourth line for several teams. However, that hasn’t been the case this season as he has only played in three games so far this month, spending the rest of the time as a healthy scratch. Accordingly, Larry Brooks of the New York Post opines that New York could opt to waive the 35-year-old in order to free up some extra cap space both now and at the trade deadline. They wouldn’t be able to clear his entire $1.75MM cap hit off the books if he was to be sent to AHL Hartford (they’d only get a prorated $1.125MM in space) but if he’s going to continue to have a limited role, it’s a move they’ll have to seriously consider.
Latest On Ryan Reaves
- Ryan Reaves has been a rare sight in the New York Rangers lineup in recent weeks, appearing in just one of the past five games as a frequent healthy scratch. The imposing veteran winger spoke to the New York Post’s Larry Brooks today, saying that he had a “very brief” conversation with the coaching staff about his dwindling role. Reaves has no points in 12 games and has played just 8:27 per game, and opting to waive him and assign him to the minors would save valuable trade deadline cap space for the Rangers.
Vitali Kravtsov Will Miss Second Straight Game With Flu, Dental Issue
- According to head coach Gerard Gallant, New York Rangers forward Vitali Kravtsov, who missed yesterday’s game at the Nashville Predators with an illness, will be out of the lineup tonight at home against the Arizona Coyotes too, as relayed by Arthur Staple of The Athletic. Vince Mercogliano of USA Today Sports adds that Kravtsov not only has the flu, but a dental issue as well, which necessitated a trip to the dentist this morning.