OFFICIAL: Yegor Rykov Activated and Sent to Hartford ; Day Demoted to ECHL

The Rangers have activated defenseman Yegor Rykov from the injured reserve list and sent him to the Hartford Wolf Pack, according to the AHL’s transactions page. To accommodate the move, the Wolf Pack have sent defenseman Sean Day to the ECHL Maine Mariners.

Rykov, 22, had signed with the Rangers over the summer and was perceived to be a strong contender to make the NHL opening night roster. However, an ankle injury early into training camp shelved him. He has been inactive since but is now presumably healthy enough to join the Wolf Pack and get into game action soon.

The Russian defenseman will probably spend most of the season in Hartford getting back into game shape as well as transitioning to the North American rink. Rykov does not have a European Assignment Clause for the 2019-2020 season, meaning there shouldn’t be any concerns about him return to the KHL this season. Depending on his play on how the rest of the Rangers’ season goes, it’s possible he could get into NHL action at some point.

Rykov was acquired from the New Jersey Devils at the 2018 NHL trading deadline as part of the return for Michael Grabner.

Day, 21, played very well in the second half of the 2018-2019 AHL season but has struggled mightily this season. He has just one goal and three assists in 16 games with the Wolf Pack and has seen his role on the team diminish.