The New York Rangers welcomed Taylor Pyatt back into the fold on Monday as he participated in a full morning skate -- with contact -- and appeared ready to re-join the team in the near future.
“Taylor is doing fine,” head coach Alain Vigneault told Blue Shirts United. “He’s been working out a little more than 10 days. He’s been cleared for all activity, and he should be ready for us soon.”
Pyatt, 32, suffered the concussion on a hit from Columbus defenseman Fedor Tyutin on Nov. 7, and has proceeded to miss the last seven games (he’ll miss No. 8 tonight against Tampa Bay.)
The veteran forward’s injury only compounded his rough start to the year -- through the first 16 games, Pyatt had just a single point (an assist) and had an ugly minus-8 rating, all while averaging 13:32 TOI per game.
Pyatt’s in the final year of a two-year, $3.1 million deal with the Rangers and, when ready to return, will finally give Vigneault a chance to ice his full lineup this year, as injuries to Pyatt, Ryan Callahan, Carl Hagelin, Rick Nash and Dominic Moore have derailed that opportunity.