GREENBURGH – The Rangers’ mission just got a bit more difficult. Defenseman Kevin Klein was diagnosed Wednesday with a fractured right thumb, and is out indefinitely.
How this affects the trade deadline and any decision to deal a defenseman (notably Keith Yandle) remains to be seen.
Rangers coach Alain Vigneault sounded as if he was holding out hope that “indefinitely” in this case doesn’t mean long term. Klein was injured late in Tuesday’s 3-2 loss in Newark when he was checked cleanly by the Devils Reid Boucher and fell awkwardly on his right hand.