Wolf Pack’s Bob Crawford on possible call up candidates from Hartford to replace Derek Stepan
Gibbons scores in the preseason 9/21/15 (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)
Derek Stepan is out indefinitely with broken ribs. He was seen yesterday after the game walking around with a flak jacket to protect them. Today, the Rangers will simply reinsert Viktor Stalberg into the starting lineup, but what will they do for the foreseeable future?
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I reached out to Wolf Pack play-by-play announcer, Bob Crawford and here are his list of candidates.
I’d say among good candidates would be Megna, Bourque, Gibbons, Adam. https://t.co/iocGdpIYcl
— Bob Crawford (@HawkCrawford) November 28, 2015
Wolf Pack stats as of 11/28/15 via team website
Jayson Megna: The 25 year old center may be the best fit, because he’s right-handed and the Rangers lack RH forwards. No one in Hartford is lighting up the AHL, but he may simply make the most sense from a position and shooting/passing/PP standpoint. If called up, he would likely see some action.
Ryan Bourque: He’s a LW but has some experience with the big club and the coaching staff. He could simply ride the pine the whole time he’s up and be used in case of emergency.
Brian Gibbons: The former Penguin impressed during camp and seems to be doing an adequate job down in Hartford. He plays center but is a left-handed shot, will that be why Megna gets the nod ahead of him? He has excellent speed and can kill penalties which is something Stepan did, so maybe that gets him the call.
Adam Tambellini: The only reason I can see Tambellini getting the call is if the organization would like a closer look in what they have in this kid. At 6’3″ the kid has size and we’ve seen his skill at the minor league levels. At LW, he could slide on to the third or the 4th line and not be put into too difficult a spot. I doubt he gets the call.
Unlikely but very possible candidate goes to fancy stats blogger’s favorite (where is that sarcasm font?), Tanner Glass. I don’t think so, but won’t rule it out.
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