How often is it that an NHL coach, in the middle of an early-season swoon, finds it necessary to leave his club on the eve of a game and head to their minor league affiliate to scout in person?
Well, that was what Rangers coach Alain Vigneault decided to do on Friday night, when he left after practice at the MSG Training Center in Westchester and headed to Hartford to watch the Wolf Pack play host to the Manchester Monarchs.
Vigneault and his club go into Saturday night’s game against the winless Devils (0-4-3) at the Prudential Center in Newark dealing with the aftereffects of the injury to their captain, Ryan Callahan, whose broken left thumb is expected to keep him out for up to a month. By calling up penalty-killing forward Darroll Powe, and by moving the grinding Taylor Pyatt up to their top line, it is clear Vigneault knows his roster is currently one not made to win a track meet.
But it’s also clear Vigneault is looking ahead to the future, which means going to Hartford to see what he has there with his own eyes. At the top of the list of things to see is Chris Kreider, who still sits on the outside of this team looking in, but for what may not be very much longer.
“From what [Wolf Pack coach Ken Gernander] said, he’s playing well,” Vigneault said of Kreider, who went into Friday night with two goals and an assist in four games. “He’s using his tools and he’s been playing well since he’s been there. He’s going to continue to improve, and at some point, we’re going to need him and he’s going to be ready for us.”
That point apparently wasn’t now, as the immediate need was to try and replace Callahan’s physical presence, as well as his role on the penalty kill — henceforth the promotion of Powe.
The Rangers (2-4-0) are also dealing with the loss of superstar Rick Nash — the team said “nothing’s new” concerning his presumed concussion — as well as speedster Carl Hagelin, finally cleared for contact on Friday after offseason shoulder surgery, but unable to come off injured reserve until Oct. 29.
“It’s definitely an opportunity for some other guys to have a bigger role and more ice time,” Vigneault said. “We’re hoping that someone is going to grab the opportunity.”
Vigneault is in part giving that opportunity to Pyatt, whom he coached for three seasons in Vancouver. There, Vigneault often placed Pyatt on a line with the very talented Sedin twins, Daniel and Henrik, and that experience played a part in moving Pyatt up to a line with Derick Brassard and Brad Richards.
“When he did play with the twins, he was a good net presence, he was good with the cycle, he knew when to get in there and use that big body of his,” Vigneault said. “That’s what I’m hoping he’ll be able to do with Brass and Richie.”
Pyatt doesn’t have a point this season and had six goals and 11 points in 48 games last year. Yet, he knows this is a chance for him to show he can play with the skill guys and handle the big minutes.
“I know I’ve got to find a way to produce,” Pyatt said. “It’s a great opportunity and I have to take advantage of it.”
Vigneault said goalie Cam Talbot was sent down to Hartford so he could play three games: Friday, Saturday and most likely Wednesday, before returning to the Rangers. That means 6-foot-8 netminder Jason Missiaen will back up Henrik Lundqvist on Saturday, and likely be returned before the next game, Thursday night in Philadelphia against the Flyers.