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Game 26: NYR-CAR, Zib out with concussion, McD back, my takes |
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The Rangers close out their four-game homestand tonight against the Hurricanes. Mika Zibenajad, who missed Tuesday's contest with an upper-body injury, has already been ruled out with a concussion. Returning for New York after missing the past four games with a mild ab strain will be Ryan McDonagh.
Obviously, the main focus has to be McDonagh. Below are the hit causing the concussion, which my tweet explains my thought on it, the concussion protocol rules, a key here, Murray Pam tweet this is Zib’a five concussion and his last concussion on 12/1/15 on a hit by Radko Gudas. Individually, each is not good, but collectively, the story is worse.
Hit by Darren Helm causing concussion:
Concussion Protocol Rules:
Total of five concussions now for Zib, one in SEL and BINGO, two with Ottawa and now one in NY:
Zib's last concussion, courtesy of Radko Gudas on 12/1/15:
Coach Alain Vigneault gave the following timeline on Zibanejad from the initial hit by Helm on Friday to now: “We had optional [practice on Saturday], came in, did off-ice. Played the next game, felt fine,” Vigneault said. “We had a day off on Monday and then he came in for the morning skate [Tuesday] and wasn’t feeling well. Had some symptoms. Came in the night, tried in warm up, still didn’t feel well, so we shut him down. Following the protocol.”
Here are my thoughts, which I think we discussed yesterday:
1) based on the NHL’s concussion protocol, Zib should have been pulled by the league’s spotter when he took extra time to get up from the hit
2) Zib likely was examined Saturday when he came in and didn’t take part in the optional practice
3) it is possible for concussion symptoms to be latent initially and then show up later. It’s possible that Zib took a check Sunday that triggered the symptoms. The hope is that he didn’t hide anything Saturday or Sunday which would have rightfully kept him out
4) if he didn’t feel well Tuesday AM, why did AV and the doctors allow Zib to participate in the morning skate or the warm ups? Based on the protocol, he should have completely shut down.
5) each concussion builds on a prior one, so this being the fifth of his career is clearly a concern. The one saving grace is that the last previous concussion was almost two years ago, which hopefully allowed Zib enough time to heal. But as we have seen, that’s no guarantee.
6) without Zib, the lack of depth down the middle is exposed even further. J.T. Miller was moved back to the 3C due to that lack of depth. David Desharnais, originally a healthy scratch Tuesday, was rushed back into action and did a fine job centering the top line of Chris Kreider and Pavel Buchnevich. Desh will stay in that role at least one more game and maybe he thrives with the increased responsibility and ice time, but I am pretty we all believe this isn’t a long-term option.
Here are the lines tonight (same as Tuesday):
Kreider- DD - Buch
Vesey - Hayes - Nash
Grabner - Miller - Zuccarello
Carey - Nieves - Fast
To help provide another possible bottom-six option, GM Jeff Gorton dealt Adam Cracknell, who was picked up off waivers from the Stars on Oct. 9, and played four games before going through waivers and being sent to AHL Hartford, to Montreal for Peter Holland. That minor deal gives New York a younger player who provides better depth at Hartford but who also can play center if needed in the majors. Holland, 26, has 243 career games in the NHL for the Ducks, Maple Leafs and Coyotes. He was a first-round pick (No. 15 overall) of Anaheim in 2009.
If Holland does come up, Boo Nieves could move to wing, shifting Paul Carey to the bench. Holland isn’t a great option but one that could be a short-term, full-in if needed. At worst, he’s depth, at best, he slides into the fourth line.
I also don’t expect Filip Chytil to be called up or Lias Andersson to be brought back to the US. Each needs the development time in both leagues. If Chytil is ready after the WJC, then maybe give him a look then. The only way that should change is if the team is desperate and a move has to be made now. But long-term growth needs to outweigh a short-term benefit.
8) Vigneault said Zibanejad will continue to go through the NHL's concussion protocol until he's cleared to return to action. Don’t rush him back. Make sure he is 100% cleared, and even then, maybe give him 1-2 more games just to be sure.
Mac Truck is back. With McDonagh back in, Steven Kampfer looks tonbe the odd-man out. Kampfer has played well this season, better than expected, and if just based on Tuesday, he should remain in while Nick Holden, who struggled mightily, sits. But that won’t be the case. The only caveat to that is Brendan Smith blocked a shot from Mark Pysyk late that appeared to hobble him, so if he sits for some reason, Kampfer would play.
McDonagh - Holden
Skjei- Shattenkirk
Staal - Smith
The next challenge is to find a pair-mate for Mac. Holden and McD weren’t bad together before McD sat but thats not the best pairing for the future: the problem is, as we have discussed before, is who is? Does AV retry Kirk and McD and hope their struggles were due to small sample size, ‘Kirk settling in and McD playing through injury. Are you okay with breaking up Skjei and Shattenkirk? Do you move Smith back up and see if that chemistry works? If not, and you go with McD and ‘Kirk, is it then Smith and Skjei with Staal and Holden as the third pair? Is Staal given a shot on the top pair? If you go back to McD-Kirk and Skjei-Smith, do you call up Pionk and put him next to Staal? Lots I defisions to be made in the next few weeks.
New York Rangers Blogger • 
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