Rangers to try veteran winger St. Louis at centre

New York Rangers forward Martin St. Louis has played his 15-year NHL career almost exclusively on the wing. (Gerry Broome/AP)

The injury to Derek Stepan is forcing the New York Rangers to get creative.

With the regular season just around the corner and the Blueshirts thin down the middle, head coach Alain Vigneault says veteran winger Martin St. Louis will be given a shot to line up at centre.

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St. Louis lined up at centre during power-play drills at Wednesday’s practice.

According to the New York Daily News, Vigneault received a text message from St. Louis last week that said, “If you need me in the middle, I’m ready.”

Stepan was helped off the ice last Wednesday after suffering a non-displaced fibula fracture in his left leg during a conditioning test that will keep him sidelined for four to six weeks.

The Rangers have two pre-season games remaining—Friday against the Chicago Blackhawks and Saturday against the New Jersey Devils—before they open the regular season Oct. 9 on the road against the St. Louis Blues.

Also at centre, the Rangers have Derick Brassard and Dominic Moore to lean on, plus youngster J.T. Miller and veteran free agent signing Matthew Lombardi.

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