Rangers Recall Rookie Cole Beaudoin After Veleno Lands on Injured Reserve

The New York Rangers recalled 20-year-old center Cole Beaudoin from AHL Hartford for his NHL debut after Joe Veleno's awkward fall put him on injured reserve.

Rangers Recall Rookie Cole Beaudoin After Veleno Lands on Injured Reserve

The New York Rangers turned to rookie Cole Beaudoin on Tuesday, recalling the 20-year-old center from AHL Hartford just two games into his professional career.

Beaudoin, acquired from Utah in the Vincent Trocheck trade, went straight into the lineup for the matchup with the Islanders at Madison Square Garden, skating on the fourth line between Jaroslav Chmelar and Oliver Bjorkstrand. The debut was a successful one: New York defeated the Isles 5-2, and Beaudoin later said he felt good and was simply playing his game, nerves and all.

His promotion came at the expense of Joe Veleno, who was placed on injured reserve with a lower-body injury. The 26-year-old fell awkwardly along the boards with Utah's Clayton Keller in the first period of Sunday's win over the Mammoth, had to be assisted to the dressing room without putting weight on his right leg, and has no timeline for return, according to head coach Mike Sullivan.

To open the roster spot, the Rangers waived Matthew Robertson on Monday; he cleared and was assigned to Hartford. Veleno joins backup goalie Joonas Korpisalo and winger Adam Sykora on the sideline — three Rangers on IR through the season's first week. Beaudoin earned the look by leading the Wolf Pack with five points in two games.