WILL NEW RANGERS' COACH BE GOOD FOR FREE-AGENT JONES?

 

The New York Rangers (officially) will introduce

 MIKE SULLIVAN as their new coach tomorrow 

morning. He supposedly is big on puck-moving, 

quick-skating defensemen … which should be good 

news for ZAC JONES, the native Richmonder who 

checks the boxes yet spent most of the last two 

seasons more healthy scratch than active player … In 

fact, the left-handed defenseman from Glen Allen is 

arguably the team’s best passer among a backline 

corps that, for the most part, has had all kinds of 

trouble getting out of its own end … Meanwhile, 

Jones is a restricted free agent which means he’s still 

at mercy of management … which must offer a new 

contract, trade or release him. The latter is out of the 

question. Otherwise, after allowing Jones’ agent to 

find a new address for his client, why did the 

Rangers demand a third-round draft choice as the 

minimum return? For a player who appeared in only 

31 games two years ago and 46 (of 82) this year?

JOE MICHELETTI has joined Rangers TV partner

 SAM ROSEN in retirement. The former 

defenseman spent the last 19 years with Rosen, 

iconic play by play voice, who called it a career after 

40 years … and a farewell tour that Micheletti had 

none of, presumably by choice.

KENNY ALBERT, the team’s radio voice (and son 

of legendary Marv), will replace Rosen … that is, 

when he isn’t otherwise occupied with NFL on Fox 

… No indication as to Micheletti’s successor.

To repeat: Washington Capitals’ SPENCER 

CARBERY for NHL Coach of the Year.

“I got it … ‘Dewayne Jet-ski.’” Enough already.

What are the odds … a Logan (Carolina, Hurricanes’ 

Stankoven) scores on a Logan (Washington Capitals’ 

goalie Thompson)?

Only hockey … can a player be hit from behind, 

face-first into the boards … and be found guilty of 

embellishment when he lands on the ice and takes a 

few seconds to get up. See Florida’s EVAN

 RODRIGUES in Wednesday’s playoff Game 2 in 

Toronto.

Until next time ...