The Rangers probably can push this off until Sunday, but between now and then (and barring an unforeseen development) management essentially will have to decide between Josh Jooris and Dylan McIlrath as the club’s 23rd man.
Fourth-liner Jooris, who has played well in four games, and eighth defenseman McIlrath, who has gotten into only one match, are both subject to waivers. Thus, management must make the call on which player it fears losing the most (or least).
The Blueshirts are carrying the max 23-man roster entering Wednesday’s game at the Garden against the Bruins. That does not include Pavel Buchnevich, who is on IR rehabbing from a lower back issue that has sidelined him since the second game of the season in St.