New York Rangers injury update: Adam Fox ‘progressing,’ Arthur Kaliyev returns home to be evaluated

Adam Fox took part in the New York Rangers morning skate at Xcel Energy Center on Thursday ahead of their game against the Minnesota Wild. Though the star defenseman won’t be in the lineup, Fox is making progress toward his return.

“Nothing’s changed with him. That’s great he’s out on the ice and progressing, but he’s on IR still,” Rangers coach Peter Laviolette told reporters.

Fox, who also participated in the morning skate Tuesday before a 2-1 loss to the Winnipeg Jets to start this three-game road trip, has been sidelined since sustaining an upper-body injury against the New York Islanders on Feb. 25. He appeared to land heavily on his shoulder when he fell to the ice defending in front of his own net in that game, though the Rangers haven’t specified the nature of his injury.

The 27-year-old will miss his eighth game Thursday. The Rangers are 2-3-2 without him in the lineup and on a four-game skid (0-2-2). Despite missing seven games, Fox still leads the Rangers with 40 assists and is tied for second with 48 points.

During his absence, Fox and his wife Tate became first-time parents with the birth of their daughter Greer Rose.

Zac Jones returned to the lineup and took Fox’s spot as the point man on New York’s top power-play unit. Jones has two assists at even strength in the seven games, but the power play is 2-for-23 in that span.

Rangers send Arthur Kaliyev back to New York for further evaluation on upper-body injury

Arthur Kaliyev was sent home from the road trip to be further evaluated for an upper-body injury the forward sustained against the Jets. Laviolette didn’t have any further information on Kaliyev’s injury, condition nor timetable.

The 23-year-old was hammered into the boards on a clean check by Jets defenseman Luke Schenn in the third period Tuesday. Kaliyev was in obvious discomfort leaving the ice and didn’t play another shift.

It’s a touch break for Kaliyev, who was playing for the first time in eight games, after being a healthy scratch every game since last playing Feb. 23. He has four points (three goals, one assist) in 14 games and registered one shot on goal in 7:49 TOI against the Jets.

He will be replaced by rookie Brett Berard in the lineup against the Wild. Berard has eight points (four goals, four assists) in 23 games and last played Sunday in the 7-3 home-ice loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets.

The 22-year-old will skate on right wing of the third line with center Sam Carrick and left-wing Chris Kreider.

The Rangers will also shuffle thheir top-six group of forwards against the Wild a bit. Alexis Lafreniere is being removed from his usual spot alongside Vincent Trocheck and Artemi Panarin and will skate on a line with J.T. Miller and Mika Zibanejad. Will Cuylle flips spots with Lafreniere and joins Panarin and Trocheck.

Lafreniere is without a goal in 13 games and has 14 on the season, half his total from last season.