Already thin at center, the New York Rangers suffered a crushing blow during practice Wednesday as Derek Stepan fell to the ground clutching his leg during team drills and it was later reported that the center sustained a fractured fibula. There is no timetable for his return.
2014-15 Atlantic Division Predictions
One of the biggest questions surrounding the Rangers coming into the 2014-15 campaign after a tremendous 2013-14 season saw them reach the Stanley Cup Final for the first time in 20 years was whether or not they had enough depth at the center position, and Stepan's injury certainly doesn't help that matter.
NHL.com reports that Stepan had to be helped off of the ice after falling down during a conditioning drill at the team's practice facility. Northjersey.com reports that Stepan was taking part in a full-rink sprint drill when he fell to his knees while attempting to push off and catch up to speed.
2014-15 Metropolitan Division Predictions
According to the report, Stepan was attended to on the ice and then helped off by teammates Martin St. Louis and Mats Zuccarello.
Pat Leonard of the New York Daily News later confirmed the fibula was fractured:
#NYR say Derek Stepan has a fractured fibula. No timetable
— Pat Leonard (@PLeonardNYDN) September 24, 2014
Stepan was skating for the first time since Saturday due to the fact that he suffered a contusion on his foot after getting hit in the skate with a shot while attempting to block it during an informal skate on Sept. 9. Coach Alain Vigneault downplayed the severity of the foot injury earlier this week.
Stepan was projected to center the top line for the Rangers that would be anchored by Rick Nash and Chris Kreider. The Rangers have Derick Brassard, J.T. Miller and Dominic Moore slated for the other three lines, but they are very thin with established players at that position beyond that.
Brassard could move up to the top line and cause a chain reaction through the rest of the lineup, though Miller has been inconsistent and may not be ready to fill the No. 2 center job despite a good start to the preseason and Moore is a bottom-six center. Matthew Lombardi could also potentially find his way into the lineup with the injury to Stepan.
The Rangers lost centers Brad Richards and Brian Boyle this offseason. Richards' contract was too heavy and the team had no choice but to buy him out and he signed with the Blackhawks while Boyle - who was solid at winning faceoffs and killing penalties - signed with the Tampa Bay Lightning out of free agency.
It remains to be seen who will take the reins as the top-line center for New York this season, but the loss of Stepan is huge for the Blueshirts.
Stepan played in all 82 games for the Rangers last season and put up career-highs with 40 assists and 57 points while he ranked fifth on the team with 17 goals. Stepan was tied for second on the team with 15 points in 24 playoff games off of five tallies and 10 helpers.
The Rangers went 45-31-6 (96 points) last season before falling to the Los Angeles Kings in five games in their surprising run to the Stanley Cup Final.
New York opens up its season without Stepan on Oct. 9 against the Blues in St. Louis.
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