NEW YORK – Pavel Buchnevich has been recalled from Hartford after finishing his conditioning stint with the Wolfpack, Mika Zibanejad is back on the ice in a contact jersey and Rick Nash is a thumbs up away from returning. With three of their top-6 returning, there’s plenty to smile about in New York heading into the second half of the season.
Buchnevich has only played 10 games for the Rangers this season, registering four goals, four assists and maintaining a plus-four rating. He was assigned to the Wolfpack on January 6th as the last leg of his conditioning regiment while the Blueshirts went into their league mandated bye week. The rookie Russian tallied a goal and an assist in three appearances with Hartford before being called back up before the Rangers tilt against the Toronto Maple Leafs at home.
Mika Zibanejad, who suffered a broken fibula against the Florida Panthers on November 20th, was seen in a regular contact jersey at the Rangers Thursday practice, which is the quite the sight for sore eyes. The Rangers have been more than keeping the ship steady in his absence, but there’s no question that Zibanejad’s presence immediately improves their entire lineup from top to bottom.
Getting him back to first/second line center allows Kevin Hayes to get back to his comfortable third line spot, which helps round out their fourth line, making a dominant top-12 forwards. It isn’t clear when Zibanejad’s official return date is, but the scene of him on the ice taking normal shifts at practice ensure’s it’s much sooner than later.
Then comes power-forward Rick Nash, who was playing unbelievably before injuring his groin. Â The bye week couldn’t have come at a better time for Nash (and really Zibanejad and Buch too), as he was already a confirmation away from playing again. Before their last game against the Blue Jackets on January 7th, head coach Alain Vigneault mentioned that the only thing stopping Nash from returning was Nash himself. As long as he felt good, he was good to go. Though Nash himself said he was feeling great, the veteran knew that rushing back before an entire week off wouldn’t be best for the team.
Fast forward a week later and barring any set backs, he should be good to go Friday night at home against the Leafs or Saturday night in Montreal against the Canadians.
Having all of their forwards back would bring up the issue that they faced when the season began, which was where to put all of these forwards. Who sits? Who dresses? Who go to waivers? Those questions will be answered once everyone is healthy again, but if the second half is anything like the first, the Rangers showed that having too many forwards is a great problem to have.
When the three forwards return, my projected line ups are…
Nash – Stepan – Zuccarello
Kreider – Zibanejad –Â Vesey
Grabner – Hayes – Miller
Fast – Lindberg – Buchnevich
I put Buchnevich on the fourth since he is returning from a lot of back spasms and has been working on getting his conditioning back. Once he is 100% he should fill in Vesey’s spot on the second line considering the great chemistry K/Z/B had at the start of the year, which would probably move Vesey to Grabner’s spot, moving Grabner to fourth line. It’s incredible how one move makes the rest of the lines so difficult to create but as I mentioned earlier, that’s a great problem to have.
The injury bug as plagued the Rangers all year, whether it’s been taking out top line guys for extended time such as Buchnevich, Chris Kreider, Nash and Zibanejad, or other key players such as Marc Staal and Matt Puempel. Through many injuries and off sets the Rangers still sit sixth in the NHL, fourth in the Metropolitan division and are on pace for a 110 point season. Despite cooling off after starting red hot, despite some early struggles from their all-star stud Henrik Lundqvist, the Rangers have shown that they have the roster of guys to step up and gut out a win. They have shown they can answer the bell when called upon.
Follow Danny on Twitter: @Danny_PJones
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