Even with Adam Fox back from an extended injury absence, the New York Rangers will be without several regulars in their lineup for the 2026 Winter Classic against the Florida Panthers at loanDepot Park in Miami on Friday.
Rookie center Noah Laba won’t play Friday and is week to week after he sustained an upper-body injury, when the Rangers lost 6-3 to the Washington Capitals on New Years Eve. Veteran forward Conor Sheary sustained a lower-body injury in the same game, and the Rangers placed him on LTIR on Thursday.
The Rangers already were without captain J.T. Miller, who’s week to week with an upper-body injury and misses his sixth game Friday, and forward Adam Edstrom, who’s on LTIR with a lower-body injury and not expected back anytime soon.
Fox returned Wednesday after missing 14 games with an upper-body injury. New York’s top defenseman scored a power-play goal and added an assist, logging more than 21 minutes TOI in the road loss in DC.
To fill out their active roster, the Rangers recalled forwards Brett Berard, Justin Dowling, and Anton Blidh from Hartford of the American Hockey League. Brennan Othmann, a healthy scratch the previous two games, was assigned to Hartford to keep the Rangers compliant with the NHL salary cap.
What’s next for Rangers after Noah Laba, Conor Sheary injuries
Dennis Schneidler-Imagn Images
So, let’s examine the ramifications of the injuries and flurry of roster moves.
Rangers depth challenged after injuries to Noah Laba, Conor Sheary
The Rangers previously muddled through extended injury absences to star players like Fox and Vincent Trocheck, and currently remain without Miller. Neither Laba nor Sheary is that level of player; but their injuries further challenge the depth of an already thin roster.
In a mediocre first half this season, one bright spot for the Rangers was the development of Laba into a trusted third-line center. The 22-year-old brings speed, grit, some offensive skill (five goals, seven assists), and willingness to play a committed 200-foot game. He’s won 51.9 percent of his face-offs and become a reliable penalty killer.
Laba is one of six skaters to play all 42 games, so far, this season (Will Cuylle, Alexis Lafreniere, Sam Carrick, Vladislav Gavrikov, Braden Schneider). He’s going to be missed big-time.
Sheary’s injury appears to be a bigger deal than that of Laba, since the Rangers placed the 33-year-old on LTIR. He fell awkwardly to the ice at the 14-minute mark of the second period Wednesday after hooked by Capitals forward Brandon Duhaime. Whether a knee injury or some other issue, Sheary’s going to be out for at least several weeks.
The two-time Stanley Cup champion made the opening-night lineup after attending training camp on a PTO, and played on all four lines over 37 games to this point. He plays a determined North-South style that coach Mike Sullivan favors, and is a buzzsaw on the forecheck. However, Sheary played far too often in the top six and on the second power-play unit, and has just one goal and eight assists. Still, he’ll be missed, though not to the extent Laba will.
What most recent call-ups bring to Rangers
Justin Dowling – photo courtesy Hartford Wolf Pack
Of the three players recalled from the minors, Berard is the most familiar name, though the least experienced at the NHL level. The 23-year-old had six goals and four assists in 35 games with the Rangers last season. But he’s pointless in 11 games with them this season, and struggled at Hartford, where he has two goals in 20 games.
But Berard is similar to Sheary in that he can play up and down the lineup, skates fast, and is a diligent, hard-working wing, especially on the forecheck.
Dowling has 152 games of NHL experience, including 52 a year ago when he totaled an NHL career-high seven points (two goals, five assists) playing on the New Jersey Devils’ fourth line. He’s also played for the Dallas Stars and Vancouver Canucks, and owns plenty of minor league experience in the AHL and ECHL since 2010-11.
The 35-year-old is tied for second on Hartford with 16 points (five goals, 11 assists) in 24 games. He primarily played on the topline, where he built nice chemistry with Gabe Perreault.
A lefthanded center, Dowling should be a short-term fix replacing Laba in the middle of the Rangers lineup.
Blidh has 12 points (four goals, eight assists) in 85 NHL games with the Boston Bruins, Colorado Avalanche, and Rangers — for whom he played one game in 2023-24. This is his fourth season in the Rangers organization. Last year, he tied for second on Hartford with 19 goals, and finished third with 36 points. He has seven points (three goals, four assists) in 28 games with the Wolf Pack this season, and likely is the 13th forward in New York, for now.
Missed opportunity for Brennan Othmann
Steve Roberts-Imagn Images
Othmann appeared to be most logical option to replace Sheary, since the 23-year-old wing already was on New York’s roster. He played a season-high five consecutive games with the Rangers before being scratched the past two. It really could’ve been another opportunity for Othmann to improve his diminished standing in the organization. He’s pointless in six games with the Rangers this season, and without a goal in 31 NHL games.
However Laba’s injury necessitated the recall of a center (Dowling) from the minors. Combined with the Rangers not placing Laba on IR and some bonuses in Othmann’s contract, there was no room under the salary cap to keep the 2021 first-round pick on the roster. Hence, the decision to send Othmann back to Hartford.
It’s just the latest blow for Othmann in what shapes up to be a largely lost season for him.
Jim Cerny is Executive Editor at Forever Blueshirts and Managing Editor at Sportsnaut, with more than 30 years of … More about Jim Cerny
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