Don’t panic… Dane Byers wasn’t traded.
The Nipawin, Saskatchewan native has been recalled to play in tonight’s game against Minnesota. Byers is off to a very good start in his first full season back from major knee surgery last year. The 6’3” 190 pounder has two goals and three assists for five points in nine games so far this season with the Wolf Pack. Byers will be in the lineup as well as P.A. Parenteau as both will be getting their second games as a New York Ranger. Apparently either Christopher Higgins (ankle) or Sean Avery (knee) won’t be able to go and so the Pack’s left winger will be in this matchup.
This leaves the Pack two of their top players short for their contest tonight with last season’s record scoring champion Alexander Giroux and the defending Calder Cup Champion Hershey at the XL Center at 7pm. It will be interesting to see if the team recalls anyone from Charlotte.
If the Pack are to stand any chance of victory tonight, the scoring will need to come from Evgeny Grachev and Dale Weise.
Here’s the official release:
New York Rangers President and General Manager Glen Sather announced today that forward Dane Byers has been recalled from the Hartford Wolf Pack of the American Hockey League (AHL).
Byers, 23, has registered two goals and five points, along with 26 penalty minutes in nine games with Hartford this season. He ranks second on the team in penalty minutes, is tied for fourth in goals and eighth in points. He is also tied for third on the Wolf Pack with one power play goal. Prior to his recall, Byers was riding a three-game point streak, recording two goals and four points over the span. He tallied his first multi-point effort of the season with two assists on Sunday against Worcester. Last season, Byers tied for the team lead in playoff goals (three) and finished second on Hartford in playoff points (four).
The Nipawin, Saskatchewan native was originally the Rangers second round selection, 48th overall, in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft.
The Blueshirts return to action tonight when they will face off against the Minnesota Wild at Xcel Energy Center (8:00 p.m.). The game will be televised live on MSG 2 and can be heard on 970 The Apple.
(Dane Byers photo courtesy of viewimages.com)
