The New York Rangers got the worst possible news about Sammy Blais. He is done for the season with a torn ACL. The news was first reported by Larry Brooks of the New York Post.
Hearing that Blais will miss remainder of season. Just a terrible blow for the winger. Tough loss for Rangers, as well. Details will follow when available.
— Larry Brooks (@NYP_Brooksie) November 16, 2021
He is due to have surgery on his right knee as soon as the swelling goes down. The word came after an MRI yesterday. The recovery time from a torn ACL can range from two to nine months. Oskar Sundqvist of the Blues suffered a torn ACL last March and is about to make his return to play.
Losing the young winger is a tough one for the Rangers. He was one of the players who made the team “tough to play against” with his physical game. He was third on the team with 37 hits, behind Ryan Reaves (49) and Jacob Trouba (39). He was one of the forwards willing to crash the net and while he was still looking for his first goal, he had four assists.
The one concern about Blais coming to New York was his frequent trips to the injury list. He has never played more than 40 games in a season and has had at least one concussion. In 2017-18, after being brought up from San Antonio he missed time with a lower body injury and concussion. In 2019-20 he underwent wrist surgery and missed 28 games. Last season he missed four games early with an upper body injury, was on the COVID protocol list and then suffered an upper-body injury that cost him five games at the end of the season.
It’s also going to be a costly injury for him as he is an arbitration-eligible restricted free agent after the season. A good year would have set him up for a big payday.
What about Subban?
Still not a peep from the NHL regarding P.K. Subban’s dangerous practice of kicking out the feet of opposing players He definitely made contact with Blais and it resulted in his awkward fall that resulted in the injury.
As we have mentioned numerous times, Subban is a repeat offender, fined $5,000 when he tripped Milan Lucic of Calgary and then $15,000 when he did the same to Trevor Zegras of Anaheim. He was not punished for a slewfoot that injured Ryan Reaves in the preseason and now he has caused a serious injury.
While it may not have been as clearcut as the trips against Lucic and Zegras, the fact that this is the fourth time he has done this in a little over a month needs to be addressed. Unfortunately, that would be up to George Parros and the NHL Department of Player Safety. Considering the Rangers called Parros “unfit” after he levied a fine and no suspension against Tom Wilson, don’t look for the league to do anything.
Replacing Blais
The Blais injury is just another reason why Vitali Kravtsov was an idiot to refuse his AHL assignment. If Filip Chytil is ready to return, he will center the third line between Alexis Lafreniere and Julien Gauthier with Barclay Goodrow replacing Blais on the Zibanejad line.
The Rangers will be able to call up a forward from Hartford and the question is whether it will be Greg McKegg who has the confidence of Gerard Gallant and has been a frequent call up, or Morgan Barron who has five goals and eight points in 10 games for the Wolf Pack.
Another option from Hartford in Jonny Brodzinski who has four goals and 14 points in 13 games to lead the Pack. He had one goal in five games for the Rangers last season and can play center and right wing.