Add Ryan McDonagh to the Rangers’ list of walking wounded.
The captain was sidelined for Friday’s 4-3 win over the Flames at the Garden with an “upper-body injury.” Coach Alain Vigneault said it had been lingering since the 6-5 win in San Jose on Jan. 25, just before the All-Star break. He called McDonagh “day-to-day,” but said he “probably won’t make this trip,” which starts Sunday in Winnipeg and continues on Tuesday in McDonagh’s native Minnesota.
The 28-year-old defenseman has also had his name batted around in trade talks, with one more year after this one on his contract, which carries an annual salary-cap hit of $4.7 million. McDonagh being healthy before the Feb. 26 deadline is paramount to general manager Jeff Gorton getting optimal return.
Goalie Ondrej Pavelec started the game, but left after he hurt his knee while stopping 7-of-8 shots in the first period. Vigneault said the Rangers would know more about the severity of the injury Saturday, but it’s likely they will call-up a goaltender for the road trip.
Defenseman Brendan Smith cleared waivers and was assigned to AHL Hartford, where he is expected to report soon.
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“We’re very happy for the two kids,” Vigneault said. “They brought us some good energy, they played well.”
Two rookie defensemen — Neal Pionk and John Gilmour — made their NHL debuts for the Rangers. It was the first time since Oct. 2, 2009 (that season’s opener), with Michael Del Zotto and Matt Gilroy, that the Rangers had two defensemen make their NHL debuts in the same game.
The two were paired together, with Pionk getting 18:44 of ice time on the right side that included 3:36 on the penalty kill. Gilmour got 17:11 on the left, including 2:46 on the second-power play unit, as well as 2:04 on the penalty kill.
“It was awesome,” Pionk said from underneath the Broadway Hat. “For us to share that moment together and play together all night, it was great.”
The Rangers made a minor league trade, sending forwards Adam Chapie and Joe Whitney to the Capitals for forward John Albert and defenseman Hubert Labrie. Albert, 29, has skated in nine career NHL games, while Labrie, 26, has 350 penalty minutes in 316 career AHL games.
Defenseman Marc Staal was placed on injured reserved with a cervical strain, which has kept him out since he suffered the injury on an unpenalized hit to the head from Predators defenseman Alexei Emelin on Feb. 3.
Winger Jimmy Vesey (concussion) skated Friday morning and would have to fully practice with the team Saturday before being cleared to go on the road trip. Vesey practiced Thursday in a non-contact jersey, and Vigneault said he thought he was “coming along.”