Rangers ‘won’t rush’ Jacob Trouba, Ryan Lindgren back from injuries
Though the Stanley Cup Playoffs begin in four weeks, the New York Rangers feel no pressure to rush either of their injured defensemen, Jacob Trouba or Ryan Lindgren back into the lineup.
That much was made clear by coach Peter Laviolette on Tuesday, when he provided an update on Trouba and his first public take on the injury sustained by Lindgren.
Trouba has resumed skating on his own and will miss his seventh straight game with a lower-body injury Tuesday when the Rangers host the Winnipeg Jets.
Lindgren is out a few weeks with a lower-body injury sustained in a 5-2 win against the New York Islanders on Sunday.
“It’s listed as a few weeks, and that’s a good thing,” Laviolette said. “When you watch somebody leave the ice like that and they come back and tell you that it might be two or three weeks, that’s some good news.
“He’s such a good player for us, it’s tough but we’ll make sure he’s healthy. We won’t rush him back. Make sure he’s ready to go when he’s ready to go.”
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Rangers will make sure Jacob Trouba, Ryan Lindgren fully healthy before return from injuries
Laviolette sounded relieved about Lindgren’s prognosis after the 26-year-old was helped from the ice in the second period and appeared in great distress Sunday. He didn’t put any weight on his left leg and didn’t return to the game.
The coach also provided some positive news about Trouba. Though the Rangers captain is not ready to practice with his teammates yet, he is progressing towards that.
“He’s skating on his own,” Laviolette explained. “Again, we’re not going to rush him. There will be a time, and I don’t have a time frame on it, when you see him return to us.”
The Rangers have a four-point lead over the Carolina Hurricanes for first place in the Metropolitan Division with 14 games to play. Finishing first should give them a more favorable first-round playoff matchup. But not at the expense of Trouba or Lindgren returning too soon. Same holds true for the start of the playoffs if either, notably Lindgren, is not ready to play at that point.
New York has aced the test of playing without Trouba, so far. The Rangers are 5-1-0 in his absence, with Zac Jones replacing him in the lineup and Braden Schneider moving up to take his place on a pairing with K’Andre Miller.
Chad Ruhwedel will make his Rangers debut Tuesday after the veteran defenseman was acquired before the trade deadline from the Pittsburgh Penguins. Jones and Ruhwedel are expected to skate together on the third pairing, and Erik Gustafsson is likely to move up and take Lindgren’s spot alongside Adam Fox.
“Having depth is a good thing,” Laviolette said.
Rookie Brandon Scanlin was recalled from Hartford of the American Hockey League to be the extra defenseman.
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