Rangers’ Kevin Klein out indefinitely with fractured thumb
New York Rangers defenseman Kevin Klein is out indefinitely after suffering a fractured thumb
The struggling New York Rangers have had defensive issues all season long, but goaltender Henrik Lundqvist has been able to hide most of them. Their road to the playoffs just got more difficult as the team announced that Kevin Klein is out indefinitely after fracturing his thumb.
#NYR Kevin Klein suffered a fractured thumb and will be sidelined indefinitely.
— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) February 3, 2016
Klein sustained the injury on Tuesday during the Rangers’ 3-2 loss to the Devils. The Rangers defenseman has been a steady member of the Rangers blue line this season with three goals and seven assists for 10 points while averaging over 20 minutes of ice time per game.
He has been great defensively with a team-high plus-minus of +14 this season. Replacing Klein will be difficult for the Rangers. The Rangers will likely turn to young defenseman Dylan McIlrath who has two goals and an assist in 20 games this season while averaging roughly 15 minutes of ice time per game. McIlrath has been a healthy scratch as of late. Klein’s injury could be McIlrath’s chance to prove that he belongs in the lineup every day.
Kevin Klein’s injury likely kills any chance that there was of the Rangers trading Keith Yandle at the trade deadline. The Rangers are a contending team and unless they are willing to shift their focus from contending to rebuilding, trading Yandle makes no sense. Yandle will be a free agent at the end of this season.