Following surgery for a torn meniscus in January, New York Rangers defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk has been shut down for the season.
Rangers shut down Kevin Shattenkirk for the remainder of the season; goalie Alexandar Georgiev demoted to AHL Hartford https://t.co/HhoY0567nn pic.twitter.com/GC6LCUSBD2
— NY Daily News Sports (@NYDNSports) March 27, 2018
Expectations were high for New York Rangers defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk when he signed as a free agent with the team last July.
The New Rochelle native was thrilled to have the opportunity to play for his hometown team. Unfortunately, the thrill and excitement didn’t last that long.
Shattenkirk’s torn meniscus injury, which he played through since training camp, cost the defenseman the final three and a half months of the season. Not the way he had intended to start his Rangers career.
Shattenkirk made it known that he had intended to return to the ice before the season’s end, but with the team being eliminated from the Stanley Cup Playoffs with the New Jersey Devils’ win on Tuesday night, it seemed a moot point now. Playing in meaningless hockey games is not a smart way to rehab the injured knee.
General manager Jeff Gorton told Justin Tasch of the New York Daily News,
“These things take time,” said Gorton, who added Shattenkirk didn’t suffer a setback. “As we’re approaching the end of the season with six games to go, just thought that maybe the risk really isn’t worth it at this point.”
The Rangers will need a healthy and strong Shattenkirk to work with the young team the Blueshirts will put on the ice next season. His knowledge and experience will help the likes of Neal Pionk and John Gilmour as they look to play a full season for the New York Rangers next year.
He will continue his rehab with the Rangers now and then once the season concludes, he will set up a rehab schedule for the summer with the expectations of being fully prepared to partake in training camp in September.
