The New York Rangers have announced that forward Artemi Panarin will not return to their preseason game tonight against the Devils due to a lower-body injury. Panarin suffered a similar fate last week in the Rangers second preseason game against the Islanders when he also left due to a lower-body injury. Panarin returned after missing a practice day and told the media he had left that game to err on the side of caution.
The extent of Panarin’s injury remains in question as the Rangers’ tweets have been vague thus far. Given the fact that it is just preseason, the Rangers could be exercising an abundance of caution with their superstar. Panarin has been relatively durable since joining New York, missing just seven games in the past three seasons. The 32-year-old finished fourth in NHL scoring last season with 49 goals and 71 assists in 82 games.
In other Metropolitan Division notes:
- Rob Rossi of The Athletic reports that Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Erik Karlsson took a positive step today and skated for the first time in almost a week. Karlsson has missed all of Penguins training camp after suffering an apparent upper-body injury and took time away from the ice which created a murky picture around his injury. Today, the mood seemed more optimistic after Karlsson’s solo skate, and it seems possible that Karlsson could get back into the Penguins lineup before they start the regular season on October 9th against the Rangers.
- New Jersey Devils defenseman Topias Vilén suffered an upper-body injury last night in a preseason game against the New York Rangers and will miss the next 3-4 weeks (as per New Jersey Devils reporter Catherine Bogart). The 21-year-old joins a growing list of Devils defensemen who are dealing with injuries alongside Luke Hughes, Brett Pesce, and Santeri Hatakka. The Finnish defender was unlikely to start the season in the NHL, but with the injury, he will start the AHL season a few weeks late.