Whether Filip Szitil joins the Rangers on their four-game trip out west will give a pretty good indication of the severity of the Czech center's injury.
That and whether the 25-year-old will be on the ice when the Blueshirts return to practice at the MSG Training Center on Saturday ahead of their flight to Seattle.
Given Sitil's extensive injury history, the Rangers will likely play it safe regardless of the details.
Just as Thursday night's collision with K'Andre Miller along the left half boards didn't happen, there's always a chance Sitiil will be on the ice and on the team plane Saturday.
However, everyone is understandably wary after seeing his progress over the past year or so.
Last season, the Rangers won the Presidents Trophy even though Cityl lost the first 10 games of the season after colliding with Hurricanes forward Jesper Fast and sustaining what was believed to be his fourth concussion in his eight-year NHL career. did.
The road to recovery was rocky and included a January setback, a reset trip to the Czech Republic and a shaky playoff run.
That's why Sitil was on the ice last season after Thursday night's crash, when he was substituted for just 61 seconds before it became clear he couldn't finish the game and had to return to the locker room. Flashbacks of the struggle to stay flooded in. return.
When it comes to this particular player, it's hard not to prepare for the worst if that's the usual outcome.
If Syttil is unable to play in these four games at Seattle, Vancouver, Calgary and Edmonton, or in the near future, Johnny Brodzinski will take his place, as was the case when Syttil was injured last November. .
The Rangers will likely want to bring back someone from the Hartford Wolfpack to ensure they have an additional forward on the road.
News from Hartford on Thursday night that Brennan Osman, who was expected to be out four to six weeks with an upper-body injury in late October, is expected to be out until late December. That's what it was.
Despite playing in three of the Rangers' first seven games, Matt Lempe didn't necessarily do anything to deserve a call-up with the Wolfpack.
Therefore, the club could go in a few different directions with regards to the additional forward.
Brett Berard, who played in the Wolfpack's game against the Charlotte Checkers, led the team with six goals.
It would be a chance for Berard to gain some travel experience with an NHL team, while also being rewarded with a strong training camp to start the regular season.
If the Rangers want to stick with the veterans they're used to, Alex Belzile or Anton Blayde would be the top options.
Alternatively, if you want a center, you could consider Jake Lecishyn, who has 14 games of experience with the Rangers, and Bo Groulx, who is the Wolfpack's top-line center and leads the club in points with 10 points. .
But the Rangers' hope is that this is all just hypothetical.
Losing Sithil, who has played with more energy and passion than anyone else, could have a negative impact on the team's current situation.
The Rangers should take solace in the fact that they were able to work it out without him once, and should be able to do it again if necessary.
