Rangers' roster moves depend on Derek Stepan's injury status
Besides the possible move of Martin St. Louis to center and the nine re-assignments (see separate stories), here's some other things to know about the Rangers from Wednesday.
1. The Rangers could start the season with 22 or 23 players, coach Alain Vingeault said, depending on whether Derek Stepan (broken fibula) is placed on Long-Term Injured Reserve, which mandates that he misses 10 games. That would offer some cap relief, but if he's ready earlier, well, that's a miscalculation. The team doctors and the brass have to make the call within the week.
2. Defenseman Michael Kostka played "his best game so far" on Tuesday in Philadelphia, said coach Alain Vigneault, but "the [seventh d-man] spot there is not solidified." There are three other blueliners in camp still battling for the extra spot: Matt Hunwick, Dylan McIlrath and Steven Kampfer.
3. Winger Lee Stempniak is being tried at the right point on the second power play unit "because of the righthanded shot, because of the possibilities for a one-touch [pass] and shot, and he's done that in the past," Vigneault said. That unit had Dan Girardi at the left point, Rick Nash, Martin St. Louis and Anthony Duclair up front.
4. The Rangers will name a new captain before the team leaves next Wednesday for St. Louis, where they open the season the next day.
Ryan McDonagh is widely believed to be the leading candidate. But Vigneault isn't tipping his hand. It is also possible that several players will wear rotating As, home and away, as several teams have chosen. That would include Girardi and Marc Staal, the current alternates, and perhaps St. Louis and Nash. Remember, Vigneault gave goalie Roberto Luongo a letter in Vancouver, so he's had a different slant on things. Could St. Louis get the "C" this season and then pass the torch to McDonagh, an alternate, next season?
The Rangers practice again Thursday at 11 a.m.