The Calgary Roughnecks are starting the 2014 season with righty forward Scott Ranger on the Physically Unable to Perform list and it looks like he might not be back until next year.
According to Calgary head coach Curt Malawsky, Ranger suffered a broken jaw during the offseason and is on the shelf indefinitely.
“He’s on a list to get the surgery done, so he’s basically on the injured reserve,” said Malawsky during the NLL’s weekly Coaches Media Conference Call. “We’ve been in contact with Scott. He’s due to have another baby, so he’s got some family stuff going on. So we’re looking possibly down the end of road near the end of the season, maybe at the trade deadline and I don’t think you’re gonna pick up anyone as good as Scott Ranger at the deadline, so that’s kinda what we’re focussing on.”
Ranger was fifth in scoring on the Roughnecks in the 2013 season, picking up 53 points. His best night of the year was Feb 16 against the Minnesota Swarm when he scored six times and added two assists for eight points.
Half of his 20 goals scored were on the power play and that’s where Malawsky felt Ranger’s absence would be most felt, adding, “We’re working hard on our power play to pick up the slack. I think that’s where he was most valuable for us.”
In the meantime, sophomore forward Matthew Dinsdale is the next option to provide support on the right side alongside Shawn Evans and Curtis Dickson while lefty Daryl Veltman will likely see more floor time to add secondary scoring as well.
