NHL

Vigneault: Diaz brings depth to struggling defensive unit

There wasn’t a chance for new Rangers defenseman Raphael Diaz to get a practice in on Thursday, but he will be meeting the club in Carolina for Friday night’s game against the Hurricanes.

Diaz was obtained from the Canucks just before the trade deadline on Wednesday in exchange for a fifth-round pick. Having started the season with the Canadiens, Diaz is now on his third team of the season and is expected to add some depth to the blue line and at the very least push Justin Falk for the spot as the seventh defenseman.

“He has been brought in as a depth guy,” coach Alain Vigneault said. “Once he does get an opportunity to play, what he does with that opportunity — I mean, if he comes in and plays significantly better than one of the other players than what they’ve shown us, I’ve never hesitated to use that player before. I’m going to use guys that we feel are giving us the best chance to win.”

Vigneault was asked about the struggles of some of his other defensemen, and without prompting, knew the questioner was talking about Anton Stralman and Kevin Klein, both of whom struggled in Wednesday night’s 3-2 overtime loss to the Maple Leafs.

“They can be a little bit better, and they have to be a little bit better,” Vigneault said. “Those guys have been a little bit off.”


It seems like there is a good chance Mats Zuccarello will be ready to play Friday. Although Zuccarello said he didn’t know if he was medically cleared after breaking his hand while playing for Norway in the Olympics — and Vigneault called him a “game-time decision” — he was optimistic.

“It’s getting better and better, and I feel more comfortable with the puck and in different situations out there,” Zuccarello said. “Obviously everyone wants to play every game, but you don’t want to hurry it, either. But I feel good now, so we’ll see.”


Henrik Lundqvist is set to get his fourth consecutive start in net.


Winger Carl Hagelin took a maintenance day and didn’t practice. He’s expected to be ready in Carolina. Hagelin was the left wing on a dynamic line with Brad Richards and newcomer Martin St. Louis on Wednesday.