New York Rangers May Face Logjam as Injured Players Return

It has been well-documented this year that the New York Rangers have seen an overabundance of injuries to their starters this season, from Chris Drury and Marian Gaborik in October to Ryan Callahan and Alex Frolov towards the end of 2010. As recently as Brandon Dubinsky in January, the Rangers have been bitten hard by the injury bug.

With those injuries fading, now comes a logjam of sorts for coach John Tortorella and the blue shirts.

Starting Tuesday night against the Pittsburgh Penguins, the Rangers will be getting reinforcements in the form of returning players. Workhorse Callahan will be suiting up for the first time since blocking a Kris Letang slapshot on Dec. 15.

Reports have indicated that both Dubinsky and Vinny Prospal, who has been out since training camp, could be in the lineup as early as Thursday when the Rangers face off against the New Jersey Devils.

A week later, center Erik Christensen is back, follow by Ruslan Fedotenko sometime after that.

See the problem here?

No team will ever complain about getting healthy bodies back, especially when they are such important pieces to a team's identity as these players are. But there just isn't enough room for everyone.

The two obvious first choices to be sent back to the AHL are Kris Newbury and Evgeny Grachev, both of whom were recalled late Sunday night. Figure they get sent back to make room for Prospal and Dubinsky Thursday.

That leaves Christensen and Fedotenko with no room. The obvious choice in terms of production (or lack thereof) would be captain Chris Drury.

But do the Rangers embarrass their captain by scratching him?

It's always been Tortorella's way to not worry about the name on the back of their jersey, but that is a big deal.

I believe Fedotenko's position is more set than Christensen's. The enigmatic centerman, who is lights out in shootouts this season (3-for-3), either dazzles or disappears. With the influx of healthy, talented bodies coming back, I don't think Tortorella takes that chance.

A lot also depends on Prospal returning as a winger or center. Either way, he should be given a chance with Gaborik on the top-line, bumping Sean Avery who has shown effectiveness when paired with Gaborik.

There appears to be more questions than answers right now for the Rangers, but they're good questions.

Tortorella himself has stated that problems like these will only make the team stronger.