With Jimmy Vesey and Ryan Lindgren injured, who could take their spots on Rangers' roster?

GREENBURGH – When veteran forward Jimmy Vesey limped off the ice and into the dressing room during Sunday’s practice, Rangers coach Peter Laviolette initially didn’t think it was a big deal.

“Seemed somewhat harmless,’’ Laviolette said that day.

But the injury turned out to be a bigger deal than Laviolette realized.

“He’s out a few weeks,’’ Laviolette said Monday, when asked for an update on Vesey. “Lower body.’’

Vesey became the second lineup regular to suffer an injury that would keep him out for an extended period, joining defenseman Ryan Lindgren, who suffered an upper body injury last week in a fight with the Islanders’ Scott Mayfield. And with two veterans out, there now may be a couple of spots open for a player who might previously have been ticketed to start the season with AHL Hartford.

“That's what training camp’s about,’’ Laviolette said. “It's an opportunity for guys to step up. I do think some guys have had good camps, and… the evaluation process is still going on. We’ve still got three [preseason] games left, and so those evaluations are still taking place.’’

Two of those preseason games were Monday night in New Jersey and Tuesday night at the Garden against a squad of Devils minor leaguers. New Jersey’s NHL players are in Prague, Czechia, to open their regular season with games Friday and Saturday against the Buffalo Sabres in the NHL’s Global Series.

Adam Edstrom, the 6-7 winger who has been knocking on the door to try and force his way onto the opening night roster, could step directly into Vesey’s regular spot on the fourth line. Former first round pick Brennan Othmann, who had a goal and an assist in last Thursday’s win over Boston, could be a consideration, as well.

Edstrom, 23, played 11 games for the Rangers last season and scored two goals. In camp so far, he has scored three goals in two rookie games against the Philadelphia Flyers, and scored a goal in each of his first two preseason games.

Both he and Othmann were expected to play in New Jersey Monday, as were rookie defenseman Victor Mancini and journeyman Connor Mackey, who partnered with Adam Fox in last Thursday’s game.

Fox, a righthanded shooter, practiced Monday with lefthander K’Andre Miller as his primary partner. But in the two practices prior, he partnered with Mancini, a righthanded shot playing the left side. And Fox admitted partnering with another righthander was a little different.

“I'm always used to passing to a lefty, so the forehand’s [in front of him], as opposed to behind,’’ Fox said. “So I think little things like that are stuff you have to adjust to. It is an adjustment.’’

He did say Mancini, who has played on the left side before, “looks pretty natural’’ on that side.

Without Lindgren, Miller and Zac Jones are the top two lefthanded-shooting defensemen on the roster, with Mackey presently third on the depth chart on that side. Fox, Jacob Trouba, Braden Schneider, Chad Ruhwedel and Mancini are righthanders.

With Mancini in New Jersey Monday, Miller partnered with Fox, Jones with Trouba and Ruhwedel with Schneider, with Ruhwedel on the left side. That could be the look for opening night, if Lindgren isn’t ready to play.

“We're looking at everything,’’ Laviolette said.

Notes & quotes: Defenseman Matthew Robertson practiced for the first time since suffering a lower body injury in the Rangers’ preseason opener Sept. 22… The Rangers called up defenseman Blake Hillman and forward Blade Jenkins from AHL Hartford on professional tryout contracts… Laviolette said goaltender Jonathan Quick was scheduled to play the entire game in New Jersey. Igor Shesterkin will play in both of the final preseason games, Tuesday at the Garden and Friday at UBS Arena against the Islanders.

By Colin Stephenson

colin.stephenson@newsday.comColinSNewsday

Colin Stephenson covers the Rangers for Newsday. He has spent more than two decades covering the NHL and just about every sports team in the New York metropolitan area.