New York Rangers Recall D Matt Gilroy and Send Two Others Down

Matt Gilroy's demotion to the Hartford Wolfpack was short—and sweet.

Gilroy was recalled by the Rangers this morning while defensemen Ilkka Heikkinnen and Bobby Sanguinetti were sent back down.

The 25-year-old 2009 Hobey Baker winner was sent to the Wolfpack on Dec. 10 in order to re-establish his game at the NHL level.

Assistant GM Jim Schoenfeld said that Gilroy's play was "chinking down, in small increments," and hoped that the stint with the Wolfpack would help better his ability to win one-on-one battles and finish checks.

While playing for the Wolfpack, Gilroy recorded four assists in five games.

Sending Heikkinen and Sanguinetti back down will also likely guarantee Wade Redden's return to the lineup.

Redden had been a healthy scratch for the previous two games after a volatile confrontation with coach John Tortorella following the Rangers' embarrassing loss to the New York Islanders in the first of a home-and-home series last week.

Since being benched, along with winger Ales Kotalik, the Rangers have won two straight games—something they hadn't done since Nov. 25.

The Rangers will battle the league worst Carolina Hurricanes (9-30-6) tomorrow night to push for a third straight victory—which the Blueshirts haven't seen since their slide began during the third week of the season.