Bobby Bevilacqua

Derick Brassard has missed the last two games with the mumps, but is expected to rejoin the team for practice tomorrow. Brassard is one of the 15 players around the league to contract the illness, with more being tested with symptoms. Photo courtesy of MSG Photos.

After missing the last two games with a case of the mumps, Alain Vigneault informed media that he expects Derick Brassard to skate with the team tomorrow afternoon.

Like Tanner Glass during his stint with the illness, Brassard has been isolated from his teammates after he showed symptoms of the mumps. This will be the first time that Brassard has contact with his teammates since the victory over the Vancouver Canucks on Saturday.

Thankfully, Brassard seems to have recovered from the mumps faster than other players around the league. Tanner Glass missed five games because of the mumps, and Anaheim Ducks forward Cory Perry was just one of the other NHL players who missed a large chunk of games as a result of the illness.

Derick Brassard is one of the 15 players around the league that has contracted the vaccine-preventable illness. Although it is possible for the vaccine to weaken, it is odd that so many player have contracted the mumps. In fact, three other Penguins players are currently undergoing tests to see if they have been infected.

Many of the teams have taken their own precautions, and have delayed visits to children’s hospitals or charity work to avoid potentially spreading or coming in contact with the disease.

The Rangers recently announced that each player would be getting their own rooms on road trips, rather than sharing one with a roommate. This was done after Brassard showed symptoms as a way to try to prevent further spreading.

However, it was just announced that Lee Stempniak has shown signs of the mumps as well, and will be isolated from the team for five days, as well as undergoing tests. It is not known who will replace him in the lineup.

It was just announced that Lee Stempniak will be isolated from the team for the next five days after showing symptoms of the mumps. With Stempniak out, the Rangers will need to recall someone from the Hartford Wolf Pack. Photo courtesy of MSG Photos.

Despite the good news that Brassard will be skating with the team, this does not mean that he will play against the Carolina Hurricanes on Saturday and Sunday.

If Brassard is not available to play, it may be time to give another promising player from the Hartford Wolf Pack a chance.

JT Miller has been centering Rick Nash and Mats Zuccarello, and although he has done a decent job, he appears much more comfortable on the wing.

Oscar Lindberg, one of the Rangers top center prospects, could be the short term answer to replace Brassard while he continues to recover.

Oscar Lindberg is off to a hot start with the Hartford Wolf Pack, picking up 17 points in the first 27 games. With illness issues, the Rangers will need someone to step up and play big minutes, and Lindberg can fill that role.

Lindberg was acquired in a trade with the Phoenix Coyotes (now the Arizona Coyotes) in 2010. Lindberg played in the Swedish Elite League for four seasons until joining the Wolf Pack for the 2013-2014 season, where he had 44 points (18-26-44) in 75 games.

Lindberg is off to a great start this year, already scoring 17 points (8-9-17) in just 27 games played. There has been a lot of positive comments and reports on the 23 year old, and he has done enough to prove that he should get a shot in the NHL.

With Brassard potentially missing a few more games, and Lee Stempniak out for the time being, the Rangers will need to recall someone to fill one of the spots in the lineup. Oscar Lindberg is as deserving of a candidate as there is.