Young was regarded as one of the top defensive prospects to emerge from Kent State in the last three decades.

This showed moderate values with length in the red suits, and East should have recognized that defensive prospects were good.

The Rangers also learned that their top defensive prospect, Fedor Tjutin, sustained the same injury and would also be out four to six weeks.

But West led a low spade rather than the ace, and East put up the king, killing the defensive prospects in that suit.

West, fancying his defensive prospects, chose not to try five hearts which would have cost 500.

Maloney said: "We asked our four pro scouts to independently rank St. Louis's defensive prospects.

So is the organization's top defensive prospect, Fedor Tjutin (knee).

To compound Sather's problems, three of his top six defensemen and the Rangers' top defensive prospect are injured.

I say that doesn't speak too well to their defensive prospects this season.

He took his two top hearts, then paused to consider the defensive prospects.