New York Rangers to use shortened lineup in Patrick Kane’s debut

Credit: Matt Marton-USA TODAY Sports

The New York Rangers have been deemed ineligible to use an emergency recall for the team’s game against the Ottawa Senators on Thursday, according to the New York Post’s Larry Brooks.

The team will skate with 12 forwards and five defensemen while blueliners K’Andre Miller (suspension) and Ryan Lindgren (injury) sit out.

Rangers deemed ineligible by league for emergency recall, with Lindgren still out and Miller under suspension. Will go 12+5 tonight v Ottawa in Kane's debut.

— Larry Brooks (@NYP_Brooksie) March 2, 2023

As explained by New York Post’s Mollie Walker, the Rangers accrued enough cap space to make a regular recall earlier this week. However, the team went out and acquired Patrick Kane from the Chicago Blackhawks.

So, the Rangers will head into Thursday’s contest missing a defenseman for Kane’s debut with the team.

Niko Mikkola and Adam Fox are expected to make up the top pairing, while Ben Harpur and Jacob Trouba will play on the second. The Rangers called up Braden Schneider from the Hartford Wolfpack on Wednesday to play on the third pairing. Miller will be eligible to return for the Rangers on March 9 against Montreal.

Rangers coach Gerard Gallant confirmed that Kane will skate alongside Vincent Trocheck and former Chicago linemate Artemi Panarin on the team’s second line. Mika Zibanejad, Chris Kreider and Vladimir Tarasenko will occupy the top line.

The Rangers have made big moves ahead of the deadline, acquiring Kane and Tarasenko to beef up the offense for a push at the Stanley Cup. The Rangers currently sit third in the Metropolitan Division with 79 points, seven behind Carolina in first. New York is in the midst of a two-game win streak and are 6-3-1 over the past 10 games.

The Senators acquired defenseman Jakob Chychrun on Wednesday, who is expected to make his debut against the Rangers. Veteran Derick Brassard is also set for his 1,000th NHL game, doing so against the team that saw him score a career-high 60 points with in 2014-15.