The Rangers just announced that center Glenn Gawdin has been recalled from the Hartford Wolf Pack.
It comes the morning after a 3-1 loss in Edmonton on Monday night, with a game in Calgary on Wednesday next on the schedule. Mike Sullivan's team sits 10-8-1 and is looking for answers away from home.
The team's own PR account made it official this afternoon:
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Gawdin is 29, born in Richmond, BC, and was a fourth-round pick of the St. Louis Blues in 2015, 116th overall. He has played just 13 NHL games over his career, with one assist and a -3 rating.
He has not played an NHL game this season. That makes him a depth option, not a headline name.
The announcement gives no reason for the recall and no word on whether he will play Wednesday. We won't guess at either.
What we do know is how Monday went. Jaroslav Chmelar's short-handed goal was the only one the Rangers managed against Devon Levi, who stopped 29 of 30 shots. Dylan Garand made 17 saves on 19 shots in the loss, and Leon Draisaitl scored twice for Edmonton.
Does Gawdin change anything for the Rangers on the road?
Not by himself, no. A center with one NHL point in 13 games is not going to fix a team that is 2-6-1 on the road and 8-2-0 at home.
That split is the real problem in New York. A team with a +1 goal differential can't count on home ice every night, and Wednesday's trip to Calgary is another road test.
The Flames have Dustin Wolf's blocker message to lean on, and the goalie has played 10 games this season. Nothing in the sheet says who will start for either team, so that matchup stays open.
Whether Gawdin slots into the lineup or just adds a body at practice will be clear once the Rangers hit the ice in Calgary. More to come.
Quick hits
LINEUP: Aleksander Barkov and Brad Marchand should be back for the Panthers before Thanksgiving, according to David Dwork, who cites coach Paul Maurice. Getting both back would give Florida a big lift.
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NEW YORK ISLANDERS: Jean-Gabriel Pageau sat out practice in San Jose on Tuesday for a maintenance day, per Andrew Gross and Ethan Sears. No other detail was given, so his status is worth watching.
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VANCOUVER CANUCKS: Filip Chytil and Tom Willander are aiming to return Friday night against the Rangers, Jeff Paterson reports. Two bodies back on the Vancouver roster would be a welcome boost.
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TRADE BUZZ: Kevin Weekes reports that Flyers forward Matvei Michkov would likely want a fresh start elsewhere, citing multiple league sources. If that's accurate, Philadelphia has a decision to make.
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ANAHEIM DUCKS: RotoWire reports that Troy Terry is likely to play Wednesday against Nashville, which would be his season debut. Anaheim has waited a while for this one.
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This article was written with the help of artificial intelligence, based on public reports and official sources.
Is a recall of a 13-game NHL center the right answer for a Rangers team that is 2-6-1 on the road?
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