As Ryan Lindgren approaches a return from an upper-body injury, the New York Rangers are faced with a challenging decision regarding lineup changes when the 26-year-old defenseman rejoins the team.
At the beginning of the season, it seemed inevitable that rookie Victor Mancini would be sent back to the American Hockey League’s Hartford team once Lindgren recovered. However, Mancini’s impressive performance has opened up a debate over whether he or Zac Jones should be removed from the lineup, and there’s even a chance that Chad Ruhwedel could be sent to the minors instead.
Mancini has showcased his talent and proved he deserves a spot in the NHL, even though he hasn’t scored yet. He has seamlessly integrated into the third defensive pair alongside Jones. Over three games, he has shown promise by averaging 15:12 of ice time, ranking third on the team with seven shots on goal, and fourth with five blocked shots. At 6-foot-3 and 229 pounds, he possesses both size and speed, effectively filling the role of an NHL defenseman.
Currently, the decision about who will exit the lineup when Lindgren returns seems to be a competition between Mancini and Jones. Although Jones has more NHL experience and is averaging 15:50 of ice time with one assist, it’s unlikely he will be removed from the lineup after waiting three years for this opportunity. Mancini’s challenge is exacerbated by the fact that he is the only defenseman who is exempt from waivers. If Jones or Ruhwedel (who has been a healthy scratch for the first three games) were sent down, they would need to clear waivers, a risk the Rangers probably want to avoid. Thus, Mancini may end up being the player sent to Hartford, despite his strong performance.
The return of Lindgren will also impact the defensive pairings. He has typically played alongside Adam Fox throughout his career, but K’Andre Miller has performed well with Fox during Lindgren’s absence, allowing just one even-strength goal while together. Meanwhile, Jacob Trouba and Braden Schneider have shown good chemistry, with Trouba off to a strong start this season, contributing four assists in three games and a plus-one rating.
The most likely scenario involves Lindgren rejoining Fox, Miller returning to Trouba, and Schneider pairing with Jones. This arrangement mirrors last season’s pairings, with Jones replacing Erik Gustafsson, who is now with the Red Wings.
An interesting option for coach Laviolette might be to keep Miller with Fox and try Lindgren with either Schneider or Trouba on the second pair. Maintaining Miller and Fox together could lead to a top-tier defensive pairing if they are given more time to develop chemistry.
If Mancini is sent back to Hartford, he would likely receive first-pair minutes, which would be beneficial for his growth compared to being a healthy scratch in New York. He would also be the first player called up if another defenseman sustains an injury.
Lindgren is currently participating in practice with a bubble face shield for protection. While Laviolette has not specified a return date for Lindgren, it’s evident that his comeback is approaching. This situation gives Mancini a few more games to demonstrate his capabilities at the NHL level, making the Rangers’ decision-making even more complex.
