THIRD TIME THE CHARM?
The New York Rangers begin training camp this week, with Glen Allen’s Zac Jones faced with a familiar predicament … trying for the third straight season to prove he belongs in the National Hockey League. Each of the last two years the 22-year-old defenseman had an outstanding camp only to be shipped eventually to AHL Hartford where he excelled. Now, with a new coach (Peter Laviolette) and armed with a new, two-year contract, Jones would seem a lock to make the team. Former coach Gerard Gallant (fired) reportedly clashed with general manager Chris Drury over personnel including Jones who, at 5-10, 185, wasn’t big enough to suit the coach. Joining Laviolette on his new staff is Hall of Famer Phil Housley, who played as an under-sized defenseman and comes with a reputation for making players better. At this point, it appears there is one opening among the Rangers’ top six defensemen. That would be on the No. 3 pairing opposite right-handed Braden Schneider. To complicate things for lef...