Blake Wheeler’s return to practice from injury gives Rangers ‘a boost of energy’
Not long ago, Blake Wheeler was presumed to be out for the rest of the season with the ugly right leg injury he sustained from a hit by Canadiens defenseman Jayden Struble in mid-February.
The 37-year-old Rangers winger had to be helped off the ice by teammates after the injury.
On Monday, Wheeler returned to the ice with his teammates for the first time as they practiced for Tuesday night’s second-round playoff Game 2 against the Hurricanes at the Garden.
Wheeler, a popular player in the dressing room as a veteran voice and leader, won’t play in Tuesday night’s game and it’s possible he won’t play at all this postseason.
But his presence was widely welcomed Monday as he led the team huddle while teammates cheered and tapped their sticks on the ice.
“It’s awesome,’’ Rangers center Barclay Goodrow said after practice of seeing Wheeler on the ice again. “Seeing ‘Wheels’ out there gave us a boost of energy. We all know the hard work and grind that he’s put in every day. I know he enjoyed being back out there with the guys.
“You may not realize how much you enjoy it and need to be around the guys until you don’t have it. So, it was good to see him out there. It was definitely a nice boost.’’
Wheeler, who spent 12 seasons in Winnipeg before joining the Rangers this season and playing 54 games before his injury, was wearing a red jersey, meaning he hasn’t yet been medically cleared to play.
“I’m sure he’s enjoying being back around the guys,” Goodrow said. “It was a long time that he wasn’t here. Now he’s back in the mix. He’s got so much energy he brings.’’
Wheeler’s return to the practice ice was in addition to Filip Chytil’s presence in practice throughout the playoffs.
Chytil, who’s believed to be medically cleared to play, hasn’t played since his injury in November.
He made the trip to Washington for Games 3 and 4 but didn’t suit up.
There were thoughts that Rangers coach Peter Laviolette would activate him for the Carolina series, because he’s one of the team’s top skaters and he played well against the Hurricanes in the regular season.
But Laviolette seemingly hasn’t wanted to break up a good thing, with rookie Matt Rempe playing well on the fourth line alongside Goodrow and Jimmy Vesey.
Laviolette has been particularly tight-lipped about any plans he has for Chytil, but on Monday he offered the first hints that perhaps there could be a role for Chytil and even Wheeler should the Rangers forge deeper into the postseason.
Chytil’s most realistic chance at getting back into a game is if Laviolette sees the need to shake up the lineup in the event of a loss or two in the series.
“You’re hoping it’s a long road to get to the end, and you know that you’re going to need a lot of bodies,’’ Laviolette said Monday. “So, to see Blake back out there — even though it was in a different color jersey — I think was really important for him and for our team. It’s the steps in the process of him getting back to being available — whenever that may be.
“It’s a long road. I can tell you that from experience. It’s a grind and you need a lot of bodies, so you need everyone working hard every day.’’
Mika Zibanejad called it “a lot of fun’’ to see Wheeler back on the ice.
“ ‘Wheels’ obviously has been out for so long, and the way he’s been working and to see commitment level and just honestly the attitude he’s been bringing every day, it’s been awesome,’’ he said. “Every day you come in, he has a smile on his face. That spreads out through the room, so it’s awesome to see him back.”
