The New York Rangers, like most other NHL teams, have been battling injuries the entire season. This past weekend, the Rangers cleared both Kevin Klein and Dan Girardi to play in games, making the roster number of nine defensemen who have proven they can compete at the NHL level.
Having a healthy defensive corps has a two-fold benefit. Firstly, an abundance of reliable D-men adds competition and will likely bring the best out of every player. Secondly, during the long Stanley Cup playoffs, players are abused both mentally and physically leading to increased risk of injury.