New York Rangers head coach Gerard Gallant said today that forward Sammy Blais will be in the lineup tonight when the Rangers host the Anaheim Ducks. It will be Blais’ first NHL game since suffering a torn ACL on November 14, 2021.
Gallant also said that forward Vitali Kravtsov is close to returning from his upper-body injury suffered in the season opener. He skated with the team but hasn’t yet been cleared to return, according to Gallant. Ryan Carpenter, also out with an upper-body injury, skated today but remains out against the Ducks and is day-to-day.
Blais is expected to skate on a line with Jimmy Vesey and Filip Chytil in his return.
Acquired from the St. Louis Blues in exchange for Pavel Buchnevich, Blais did have just four assists in 14 games last season before going down with the injury. His hard-nosed, responsible style quickly endeared him to Rangers fans, though, and he’ll be a welcome sight in the lineup.
Still hurting on that deal we made for him. Buch was just turning that corner. Sure, the cap was the issue, but we had two years to manage it before making hard decisions. And the hard decisions may not be so hard after all.
He was always going to be moved, unfortunately. They wanted the depth at that price rather than the player. Goodie, reeves, & nementh.
But they messed it up even more by not getting good value from buchs trade.
Ranger management panicked on this deal because Artemi Panarin made a really bad decision against the Capitals. Now the Rangers are stuck with a 35 year old Ryan Reaves and a Sammy Blais that can’t stay healthy. The Rangers have an admirable young blueline and amazing goaltending, Depth at forward will be New York’s demise.
Yes, the team with 3 talented young first round picks who cannot get onto the first power play unit has no depth at forward.
The team is on the rise yet you somehow manage to find a reason for its demise? Wilf, you really must start paying attention. Or maybe a long stint in the minors before you get to have any more takes on the NHL.