The Rangers have seemingly made a dedication to Libor Hajek within the sixth defenseman position.
Zac Jones was demoted to AHL Hartford on Saturday, earlier than the Rangers misplaced 5-2 to the Blackhawks at Madison Sq. Backyard, as a part of a slew of strikes made for higher cap place and personnel insurance coverage. The choice was made after Jones and Hajek spent the primary 25 video games of the season alternating out and in of the Rangers lineup.
Sending Jones to the Wolf Pack will enable him to get vital enjoying time as the highest blueliner. The Rangers additionally recalled veteran Ben Harpur, whose $750,000 cap hit offers the membership extra cap house compared to Jones’ $925,000. In 16 NHL video games, Jones recorded his first NHL purpose and one help.
“[Jones is] a younger participant. He can nonetheless go down there with out clearing waivers,” Rangers head coach Gerard Gallant mentioned. “We would like him to play some video games. We like him, however we'd like him enjoying video games as a younger participant.”
Hajek has most likely performed a extra strong recreation than Jones, but it surely was seemingly troublesome for the 22-year-old to get right into a groove being yanked out and in of the lineup so usually. Gallant had mentioned Hajek wouldn't need to endure the identical scenario he was in final season, when the Czech defenseman barely noticed the ice, so the coach was seemingly simply attempting to be honest to each gamers.
“That’s not why we despatched Zac down,” Gallant mentioned when requested if this implies he believes Hajek has achieved sufficient to play each night time. “They’ve been going backwards and forwards and that was going to proceed. We decided … that one of the best factor for him was to go down there and play a number of video games. It’ll be reevaluated in a number of days.”
Harpur, 27, is a veteran depth participant with 156 video games of NHL expertise. After two seasons within the Predators’ group, Harpur signed knowledgeable tryout contract with the Wolf Pack as a free agent earlier than inking a one-year, two-way take care of the Rangers in late October.
At 6-foot-6 and 218-pounds, Harpur will present a large and bodily choice for the Rangers because the seventh defenseman.
The Rangers additionally recalled Jonny Brodzinski, who had been assigned to the Wolf Pack out of coaching camp after skating in 22 NHL video games with the Rangers final season.
Filip Chytil, who had been thought of a game-time determination, was scratched with a lower-body harm. The Rangers categorised Chytil as day-to-day.
Mentioning two gamers and solely sending down one had the Rangers’ roster again on the most 23.
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