'THE GENIUS' ON ZAC JONES; "WE NEED HIM HERE"
PETER LAVIOLETTE was asked this week
about ZAC JONES, the New York Rangers
defenseman who has been a healthy scratch for 17
straight games, 19 of the last 20. Were they
considering shipping the 24 year old from
Richmond to AHL Hartford for conditioning? No,
the Rangers coach said. “We need him here.” …
Too bad the crack Big Apple press didn’t have a
followup, like “For what?” … This is the same
Laviolette, once described by a New York writer as
“The Genius,” who was quoted last year that he
didn’t believe in keeping players on the sideline for
more than a few games in a row … then withheld
Jones for all but 31 of the regular seasons’ 82 …
This year’s latest excuse for not playing the 5-11,
185 pound left-hander has to do with the
addition of a couple of defensemen via trades in
December … while unloading JACOB TROUBA
(and his $8 million contract) as well as disgruntled
forward KAAPO KAKKO … WILL BORGEN,
a right-handed d-man from Anaheim (for Trouba),
was said to be on the verge of being sent to the
minor leagues (if he cleared waivers) by the lowly
Ducks when the deal with the Rangers came
through. A week ago the defensive defenseman,
scheduled to be a free agent, signed a five-year
contract extension worth $20.5 million … leaving
his former team, as well as the rest of the NHL,
shaking their heads … Meanwhile, “The Genius”
credited improved defensive play as primary
reason for his team’s turnaround from a terrible
2024-25 start to collect points in 10 straight games
(7-0-3)
to (a) get it back in the chase for a post-season
berth, and (b) save his job ... Better he should have
praised IGOR SHESTERKIN and JONATHAN
QUICK, his Nos. 1 and 2 goaltenders, for making
up for the usual shaky play by defenders,
particularly K’ANDRE MILLER who continues
to cough up the puck and/or being caught out of
position … In losing 4-0 to Carolina last time out,
the Rangers were booed off the ice at Madison
Square Garden. Miller was on for
goals two, when he was left behind on a 3 on 1
rush, and four … when he inexplicably skated
away from SETH JARVIS, leaving the
Hurricanes’ captain alone for an uncontested pass,
shot and his team-best 19th goal.… Even JOE
MICHELETTI, on Rangers’ TV (and a card-
carrying Miller apologist), had to criticize the 6-5,
220 pounder … How funny (and embarrassing) it
was for the Rangers to list Kakko as team leader in
the most recent plus-minus (plus 9) category … Of
those still with the team, forward WILL CUYLL
leads with plus 8). On defense, ADAM FOX is
plus five, BRADEN SCHNEIDER plus 4 and
Jones plus 2 while RYAN LINDGREN is minus
and Miller minus 6. Runaway worst MIKA
ZIBANEJAD (minus 25).
Rangers have won 10, lost nine without Jones
since Dec. 17 … Taking a lead from Kakko, who
complained about lack of playing time and
subsequently was traded, Jones told reporters he
was “rotting away” because of prolonged
inactivity. So far it hasn’t worked … For a while, it
appeared Vancouver center J.T. MILLER might
return to New York, where he was a first-round
draft choice in 2015. First, the Canucks reportedly
rejected a swap that included veteran defenseman
Lindgren … asking instead for Schneider, 23. Then
the Rangers offered often-injured center FILIP
CHYTIL, a first-round draft choice and a
prospect presumably playing in Hartford … only to
withdraw the deal for reasons thought to have
something to do with Miller (no relation) not getting along with
teammate ELIAS PETTERSSON.
Until next time ...
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