Mike Sullivan expects “some” of the injured Rangers players back in the lineup when their lost season resumes Thursday night against the Flyers.
After practicing with the team for the past week over the Olympic break, it seems likely that both Adam Fox and Igor Shesterkin will return for the first time since they both suffered lower-body injuries Jan. 5 against the Mammoth.
Forwards Conor Sheary and Adam Edstrom have also been practicing, although Edstrom has spent the fewest days on the ice among that group.
“I would anticipate some of them being ready. I’m working through that right now,” Sullivan said Wednesday. “I’ve been in contact with those guys when I was over there [in Milan at the Olympics], but I’m working through that right now with [team president Chris Drury] and our coaching staff.
“I would anticipate some of them being available for [Thursday]. Not all, but some.”
Sullivan said he enjoyed coaching his son-in-law, defenseman Charlie McAvoy of the Bruins, on Team USA.
“It was special. I won’t lie to you,” Sullivan said. “Obviously when you have the privilege to be part of an Olympic team, that’s special in and of itself. But to have the opportunity to share it with my son-in-law, my family, from a personal standpoint, it couldn’t get any better.
“Literally my whole family was in Milan to share the experience. So I think it takes on just an added level of personal fulfillment to have the opportunity to work together with Charlie.
“He’s a great kid, first and foremost, he’s a terrific hockey player, as you guys know, but he’s a great person, and it was fun to have the opportunity to work with him.”
Mika Zibanejad, who competed for Team Sweden in the Olympics, did not practice Wednesday because of an illness.
[Notigroup Newsroom in collaboration with other media outlets, with information from the following sources]
