NEWBURY BACK TO WHALE 

The New York beat reporters are all reporting that Kris Newbury has been returned to the Connecticut Whale. Below you’ll find the official release.

In regards to the Ryan Callahan injury, its being reported that it’s non-surgical, but according to Head Coach John Tortorella, “It’s long term.”

Apparently for the time being, Matt Gilroy will return to the New York Ranger’s lineup and play right wing. Gilroy was originally a forward and was converted to defense in college. The plus side of this is that although he’ll theoretically be playing out of position, it will give a defensive minded presence on the ice. It will also give the offensive mindset that Gilroy has in him the chance to come to the surface

In other news out of New York, captain and Connecticut native Chris Drury will begin full practicing on Wednesday. While the team is not giving a timetable, and while Drury is saying they can’t rush him back, this loss of Callahan will absolutely speed up Drury’s return. But the big question is, does Drury have anything left in the tank to contribute? On the bright side, he should be very fresh as he’s only played in ironically, 23 games (og, 4a) due to a twice broken finger and a knee operation.

Here’s the official release:

New York Rangers President and General Manager Glen Sather announced today that forward Kris Newbury has been assigned to the Connecticut Whale of the American Hockey League (AHL).

Newbury, 29, did not dress in last night’s 5-3 victory vs. Boston at Madison Square Garden.  He has registered one assist and 35 penalty minutes in 11 games this season.  He made his Blueshirts debut at Montreal on January 15, and recorded his first point as a Ranger with the primary assist on the game-tying goal in a 3-2 shootout win at Atlanta on January 22.

Newbury returns to Connecticut where he has registered 16 goals and 42 assists for 58 points, along with 128 penalty minutes in 67 AHL games with Connecticut this season.  He has established career-highs in assists and shots on goal (192), and leads the team in points and assists, is tied for first on the Whale in game-winning goals, fourth in goals, and ranks fifth in penalty minutes.  Newbury led Connecticut with 14 points (six goals, eight assists) and a plus-seven rating in 13 games during the month of March, including a seven-game scoring streak from March 5 at Springfield to March 18 at Manchester (six goals, five assists over the span).  The 5-11, 213-pounder established a career-high with an eight-game assist streak from November 28 vs. Adirondack to December 17 vs. Worcester, recording three goals and 12 assists over the span.

The Brampton, Ontario native was originally San Jose’s fifth round pick, 139th overall, in the 2002 NHL Entry Draft.  He was acquired by the Rangers from Detroit in exchange for forward Jordan Owens on March 3, 2010.