Beginning Sunday, defenseman K'Andre Miller will not join the New York Rangers for the start of their three-game road stretch.
He was placed on injured reserve Friday with an upper-body injury, following exiting the Rangers’ 3-2 win over the Sabres on Wednesday. While it is not fully clear when the injury was sustained, Miller was hit hard by Jordan Greenway in the second period. However, he continued playing the rest of the period but did not return in the third due to a disclosed upper body injury.
Miller, the Rangers’ first-round pick in the 2018 draft, has two goals and four assists this year and is a minus-five on the ice.
As a result of these recent developments, Connor Mackey was paired with former-first rounder Braden Schneider for Friday’s practice. Miller had previously skated with Schneider before the injury.
Mackey has yet to play for the Rangers this year and appeared in one game last year. So far this year, Mackey has appeared in 22 games in the AHL where he has two goals and four assists and is plus-two on the ice.
Also likely as a result of these developments, Hartford Wolf Pack defenseman Chad Ruhwedel has been recalled ahead of the upcoming games this weekend — starting on Saturday when the Rangers host the Los Angeles Kings at Madison Square Garden in a matinee matchup.
New York Rangers President and General Manager Chris Drury made the announcement earlier today, Friday, Dec. 13.
UPDATE: Chad Ruhwedel has been recalled from the Hartford Wolf Pack.
— NY Rangers PR (@NYR_PR) December 13, 2024
Ruhwedel, 34, has recorded three assists in eleven games with the Wolf Pack this season. He has also appeared in one game with the Rangers, posting a +2 +/- rating on Oct. 19, 2024, against the Toronto Maple Leafs.
While it's clear the Blueshirts are making the necessary arrangements to adjust, this is still some unfortunate news for New York. The Rangers desperately need all the help they can get on the defensive end. Hopefully, Miller can recover quickly and rejoin the team at some point.