The Olympic break was supposed to be a healing period for the New York Rangers, but it seems their injury woes are far from over.
Jonathan Quick, the veteran goalie, left practice early on Saturday with a lower-body concern. While it's reportedly precautionary, it's worth noting that Quick, now 40, had already missed time this season due to a similar injury back in November after a collision with Utah Mammoth's Michael Carcone.
This update on Quick follows news that Matt Rempe is headed back to the injured reserve list for a second thumb surgery. The forward's initial injury came from a fight with San Jose's Ryan Reaves in October, sidelining him for nearly two months. Despite surgery, Rempe's performance has been hampered, as confirmed by Coach Mike Sullivan.
Initially, the Olympic break seemed to be a boon for the Rangers, with stars Igor Shesterkin and Adam Fox returning to practice. Both had been out since sustaining lower-body injuries in a game against the Mammoth on January 5. Without them, the Rangers lost 12 of 14 games, highlighting their indispensable roles.
Fox, who also missed significant time in December, has only played 30 games this season. It's been a tough campaign for the Rangers, who are languishing at the bottom of the Eastern Conference, plagued by injuries to key players.
U.S. Olympians Vincent Trocheck and J.T.
Miller have also faced setbacks. Trocheck was out for a month with an upper-body injury, while Miller has battled through various issues, missing nine games.
Defenseman Will Borgen and forward Adam Edstrom have also missed time, though Edstrom might return after the break.
The Rangers are set to resume their season next Thursday against the Philadelphia Flyers. With 25 games in 49 days, it's a grueling end to a challenging season.
Quick, despite his struggles filling in for Shesterkin, expressed his commitment to the team during their rebuilding phase. With a 4-14-2 record, a 3.10 goals-against average, and a .890 save percentage, it's been a tough season for the winningest U.S.-born goalie in NHL history.