With McDonagh (hand) uncertain, Rangers mull Diaz recall

The Rangers aren’t expressing much optimism about captain Ryan McDonagh‘s availability for the start of their opening-round playoff series against Pittsburgh.

In fact, they’ve already moved onto potential replacements.

“I would say at this point, there’s a chance [McDonagh] might be able to play at some point,” head coach Alain Vigneault said, per NorthJersey.com.

AV then suggested that Raphael Diaz — the journeyman blueliner that’s spent almost the entire year in AHL Hartford — could be brought up as a stopgap blueline solution.

A call-up of Raphael Diaz (who would help PP but is right-handed) is still be considered. Diaz has been injured frequently, though.

— Andrew Gross (@AGrossRecord) April 12, 2016

AV on Raphael Diaz at Hartford (AHL): "I would like to have eight defensemen around if I could so we’ll see if he plays and how he plays."

— Andrew Gross (@AGrossRecord) April 12, 2016

Diaz does have playoff experience — 12 games, including four with the Rangers en route to the ’14 Stanley Cup Final — but has been largely out of the mix this season, and actually signed a deal to return to play in his native Switzerland for next season.

McDonagh, who hasn’t played since injuring his hand blocking a shot against Columbus on Apr. 2, has been skating in a non-contact role. New York opens its first-round series against Pittsburgh tomorrow at Consol.