New York Rangers forward Adam Sykora will miss four to five months because of a lower-body injury.
Sykora, 22, was injured in the first period of the Rangers’ 3-2 preseason loss to the host New Jersey Devils on Monday. He was off balance when he took a hit in the corner from Devils defenseman Mikael Diotte and fell awkwardly into the boards. Sykora needed assistance from teammates and a trainer to get off the ice.
Considered a promising prospect, Sykora played in 11 games for the Rangers last season and had three goals, one assist, a zero plus-minus rating, five penalty minutes, 10 blocks and 20 hits in 11:10 average ice time.
The Slovakia native had 29 points (12 goals, 17 assists) in 62 games last season with Hartford of the American Hockey League.
The Rangers selected Sykora in the second round of the 2022 NHL Draft.
New York opens the regular season on Tuesday against the host Boston Bruins.