Sproul latest D to debut

ST. PAUL, Minn. — Another day, another young defenseman making his Rangers debut.

Ryan Sproul played his first game for the Blueshirts in a 3-2 loss to the Wild on Tuesday night here at Xcel Energy Center. Sproul had been called up from AHL Hartford on Monday after veteran Steven Kampfer broken his hand in the 3-1 win over the Jets on Sunday, expected to keep him out four-to-six weeks.

Sproul joined a lineup with blueliners Neal Pionk and John Gilmour, both of whom were called up last week due to injuries to Ryan McDonagh (upper body) and Marc Staal (cervical sprain), as well as the demotion of Brendan Smith to the minors. Both Pionk and Gilmour had played the previous two games after making their NHL debuts in Friday’s 4-3 win over the Flames. Also on the squad was Anthony DeAngelo, who had spent three months in the AHL before being recalled Jan. 19.

The Rangers had acquired the 25-year-old Sproul in an October trade with the Red Wings, sending forward Matt Puempel to Detroit. Coming off surgery in April to repair an injured ACL in his left knee, Sproul spent the past 36 games with the Wolf Pack, putting up nine goals and 18 points.

“As a coach, you want your players to give you want they have,” Alain Vigneault said about his threesome of new young blueliners after the game. “I thought those young guys are learning every minute they’re on the ice, and they’re making some good plays with and without the puck.”

In the third NHL games of their respective careers, Pionk and Gilmour both recorded their first NHL points — Gilmour’s his first goal — which was the first time two Rangers defensemen did that in the same game since

Andre Dore and Tom Laidlaw on Oct. 11, 1980.

Vigneault did lament the loss of Kampfer, who had been on the top pair with Brady Skjei when he broke the hand blocking a

Dustin Byfuglien shot in the second period on Sunday.

“There’s no doubt he was getting a real good opportunity,” Vigneault said.