Man the crease
Rangers goalie Opilka undergoes second hip surgery
KITCHENER — The Kitchener Rangers have an immediate opening in net.
Veteran goalie Luke Opilka was set to man the crease but is expected to be sidelined until December after undergoing hip surgery on Saturday in Missouri.
It’s the second hip surgery for the St. Louis Blues’ fifth-round draft pick in just more than a year.
“First and foremost we’re hoping for Luke that his quality of life isn’t affected,” said Rangers general manager Mike McKenzie. “Hockey becomes secondary when you go through that stuff. But it’s tough. We were hoping to have him back in our net.”
Opilka has been bothered by a nagging left hip off and on for more than a year, but it flared up while working out with the Blues earlier this summer. When doctors took a closer look, they discovered a torn labrum.
The Rangers have three candidates vying for Opilka’s job.
Luke Richardson is the most experienced with 24 appearances stretching over two seasons. The 18-year-old was 9-6 with a 3.62 goals-against average last season.
Chris McGonigle signed as a free agent last summer and got off to a solid 1-2 start before going down with season-ending hip surgery.
His .937 save percentage — albeit just in three games — led all OHL goalies last season.
Rookie Lucas Pfeil rounds out the threesome, though at 17 years old, is more of a long shot at this point.
“It’s definitely an open job,” said McKenzie. “We’re confident in our guys and I’m sure they’re itching to get back at it and to come into camp and prove they can be the guy.”
McKenzie remains undecided how things will shake out once Opilka returns.
“That’s a wait and see thing,” he said. “Right now we’re just hoping for a speedy recovery and wishing Luke the best.”
Besides the ongoing hip issues, Opilka has also missed time with a concussion and mononucleosis. Last season he went 13-13-2-1 with a 3.58 goals against average in 31 games.
BURNS BIDS ADIEU: The Rangers have cut ties with overage defenceman Andrew Burns. The 20-year-old had five assists in 29 games with the Blueshirts after coming over from the Windsor Spitfires as part of the Jeremy Bracco trade last January. Burns was a steady presence in the back end but missed all of the playoffs with a hand injury. The Rangers now have three overagers on their roster — Opilka, defenceman Doug Blaisdell and forward Jake Henderson. The Rangers can still add one more OA due to Opilka’s injury but plan to start the season with the two healthy veterans already under contract.
TUCKER OUT: The Rangers waived defenceman Jack Tucker so he could sign a deal with the Moncton Wildcats in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League last week. Kitchener selected Tucker, whose dad John once played for the Rangers, in the 14th round of the 2016 OHL draft.