New York Rangers rookie will be sidelined indefinitely after suffering an injury during Saturday’s game against the Boston Bruins.
He had been a solid contributor in the Rangers’ bottom six, recording five goals and four assists in 51 games while averaging 9:16 of ice time. At 6’6″ and 241 pounds, he brought a strong physical presence to the lineup, playing a disciplined yet hard-hitting game.
His absence is a setback, but the Rangers have several options to fill his spot. One possibility is maintaining the current lineup leading into the break for the Four Nations Faceoff. Jimmy Vesey, who had been a healthy scratch since January 11 before returning against the Vegas Golden Knights, could remain in the rotation, especially with head coach Peter Laviolette likely hesitant to shake up a winning group so close to the break.
Another option is reinserting Arthur Kaliyev, as the Rangers need time to further evaluate him. He has shown promise in limited appearances and could be a key piece moving forward.
However, one of the most intriguing choices would be promoting Brennan Othmann. The young winger has been on a hot streak with the Hartford Wolf Pack, scoring five goals in his last six games. Despite injuries limiting him to just 20 games this season, he has posted eight goals and six assists. If called up, he could slot into the third line if the Rangers shift Mika Zibanejad back to center and scratch either Jonny Brodzinski or Matt Rempe.
For now, the most likely scenario is keeping the current lineup intact while allowing Othmann to continue building momentum in Hartford. Regardless, Edström’s injury is an unfortunate loss, and hopefully, he recovers quickly while the players competing for his spot take full advantage of the opportunity.
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