NHL

Rangers minor leaguers available with Whale’s season over

SUNRISE, Fla. — Just as it was around playoff time last season, the Rangers are readying for the taxi squad to arrive.

The Blueshirts’ AHL affiliate, the Connecticut Whale, lost on Saturday night and were officially eliminated from the minor-league playoffs. That means all of the prospects playing in Hartford are available to join the Rangers for practices now as the postseason approaches.

No specific number of players or roster has been released yet — although assuredly it has been determined who is coming and who isn’t — and the Rangers should be expected to bring up at least five to seven players. Normally, those called up practice separately during their time in the NHL, but are around the team to get a feel for the postseason atmosphere.

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Among the interested parties are a couple familiar faces, including forwards J.T. Miller, Brandon Segal, Brandon Mashinter and Benn Ferriero. The defense corps is a little lighter, with Dylan McIlrath and Mike Vernace being the most likely to be recalled.

* Tough forward Derek Dorsett is getting closer to playing as he recovers from his broken right clavicle. He took part in yesterday’s practice at the BB&T Center with a non-contact orange jersey, but performed some battle drills with defenseman Marc Staal.

Staal, wearing a tinted visor which went down past his nose, is still recovering from his horrific right-eye injury.

Coach John Tortorella said he had “no update” on either player as his team readied for tonight’s game against the lowly Panthers.

* Forward Brian Boyle is on the trip with the Rangers, but did not practice and appeared to still have a brace around his right knee. Boyle hurt the knee last Tuesday night in Philadelphia, keeping out of the Rangers’ past three games.

Tortorella again said, “no update.”

* Also on the trip with the Blueshirts is general manager Glen Sather, who seemed in good spirits as he recovers from prostate cancer surgery undergone in late March.