The Rangers are battling a myriad of key injuries and can ill afford to be without Lafrenier, who is under the weather and unable to practice on Wednesday. The 24-year-old Lafreniere has been held off the scoresheet in 28 of 44 games this season and continues to be unable to live up to the expectations he garnered when he was drafted first overall in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft. He has 24 points (9G / 15A) in 44 games this season.
Berard was a fifth-round pick of the Rangers in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft. The 23-year-old has nine points (2G / 7A) in 20 games with Hartford (AHL) this season, but zero points in 12 games with the Rangers.
With Adam Fox (undisclosed) on LTIR, the Rangers have recalled Morrow from Hartford (AHL). The 23-year-old Morrow averaged 15:34 time-on-ice and had three assists in 16 games with the Rangers earlier this season.
With Igor Shesterkin (lower body) on Injured Reserve, the Rangers have recalled Spencer Martin from Hartford (AHL) to serve as Jonathan Quick's backup. The 30-year-old Martin had a 3.56 GAA and .883 SV% in 66 career NHL games (24-30-8).
Shesterkin was forced to leave Monday's game after being involved in a collision with Utah's JJ Peterka in the first period. Shesterkin struggled to put weight on his left leg while being helped off the ice and was quickly ruled out for the game. He will miss, at minimum, one week before he is eligible to be activated off of Injured Reserve.
Fox was just activated from LTIR and played only three games, and has been placed on LTIR again, meaning he will be sidelined for at least another month. It's unclear if his current injury is related to his previous injury, but nevertheless, it's a crushing blow for a Rangers team that is currently on the outside of the playoff picture. The 30-year-old Fox has 28 points (4G / 24A) in 30 games this season.
Shesterkin was forced to leave Monday's game after being involved in a collision with Utah's JJ Peterka in the first period. Shesterkin struggled to put weight on his left leg while being helped off the ice and was quickly ruled out for the game. We should receive an update on his status ahead of New York's game against the Sabres on Thursday.
Miller has not played in over two weeks due to an upper-body injury, but appears to be nearing a return to the lineup. The 32-year-old Miller has a pedestrian 22 points (10G / 22A) in 35 games this season, but was producing at a better rate lately, with eight points (3G / 5A) in his last nine games. If he does not play on Monday against the Utah Mammoth, his next chance to enter the lineup will be on Thursday against the Buffalo Sabres.
Shesterkin was sensational in the Winter Classic on Friday, saving 36 of 37 shots (.973 SV%) in a 5-1 win over the Florida Panthers. The 30-year-old goalie has a 2.47 GAA and .912 SV% in 33 games this season (17-12-4), and has been exceptionally good lately, posting a 2.20 GAA and .931 SV% in his last six (4-1-1). The Rangers enter Monday's contest as slight +103 home underdogs against a Utah Mammoth team that has lost three of its last four games (1-3-0).
The Rangers will of course turn to Shesterkin between the pipes when they travel to Florida on Friday for the 2026 Winter Classic. The former Vezina Trophy winner was unfortunate to be tagged with the loss in his last start, stopping 32 of the 35 shots he faced in a 3-2 overtime loss in Carolina on Monday. Shesterkin brings a 16-12-4 record and .910 SV% into the Winter Classic, where the Rangers enter action at +120 on the money line.
Laba was on the receiving end of a big hit and exited Wednesday's game. The 22-year-old Laba is in his first NHL season and has 12 points (5G / 7A) in 41 games.
Othmann played only 5:47 time-on-ice in his previous game and will return to the AHL. The 22-year-old has zero points in six games with the Rangers this season.
Sheary suffered a lower-body injury in Wednesday's game against the Washington Capitals and did not return. He will be sidelined for at least a month after being placed on Long-Term Injured Reserve. The 33-year-old Sheary is averaging 14:48 time-on-ice and has nine points (1G / 8A) in 36 games this season.
Dowling spent most of 2024-25 season in the NHL with the New Jersey Devils, scoring seven points (2G / 5A) in 52 games. That said, the 35-year-old has spent the entirety of 2025-26 in the AHL, scoring 16 points (5G / 11A) in 24 games with Hartford.
Blidh has 85 games of NHL experience, but has only played one game in the past three seasons. The 30-year-old has seven points (3G / 4A) in 28 games with Hartford (AHL).
Berard was a fifth-round pick of the Rangers in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft. The 23-year-old has nine points (2G / 7A) in 20 games with Hartford (AHL) this season, but zero points in 11 games with the Rangers.
Sheary suffered a lower-body injury in Wednesday's game against the Washington Capitals and will not return. The 33-year-old Sheary is averaging 14:48 time-on-ice and has nine points (1G / 8A) in 36 games this season.
Laba was on the receiving end of a big hit and exited Wednesday's game. The 22-year-old Laba is in his first NHL season and has 12 points (5G / 7A) in 41 games.
Fox was a full participant in the previous couple of practices for the Rangers and will return to the lineup on Wednesday against the Washington Capitals. The 27-year-old Fox has not played since the end of November. He has 26 points (3G / 23A) in 27 games this season. Scott Morrow was reassigned to Hartford (AHL) in a corresponding move.
The Rangers will turn to Quick on the tail end of a back-to-back on Wednesday against the Washington Capitals. Quick has been excellent in a supporting role but has been punished by the Rangers' lack of scoring, posting a losing 3-5-1 record despite an elite 1.79 GAA and .937 SV% in nine games.
