New York Rangers make roster moves; could Zac Jones get back in the lineup?
The New York Rangers announced several roster moves today.
Forward Jony Brodzinski and defenseman Zac Jones were moved up from the taxi squad to the active roster. Meanwhile, defensemen Nils Lundkvist and Tarmo Reunanen, along with forwards Lauri Pajuniemi and Tim Gettinger were added to the taxi squad.
New York Rangers roster moves
Press Release: The New York Rangers announced a series of transactions on Thursday morning. The club has recalled forward Jonny Brodzinski and defenseman Zac Jones to the active roster from the AHL’s Hartford Wolf Pack. In addition, the Rangers have recalled forwards Tim Gettinger and Lauri Pajuniemi and defensemen Tarmo Reunanen and Nils Lundkvist to the taxi squad.
Brodzinski, leads the Wolf Pack in scoring with 28 points in 26 games. With Filip Chytil still listed as day-to-day, he will likely serve as the extra forward.
As for Zac Jones, we may finally be seeing the pairing used in Hartford with Braden Schneider. If so, that would indicate Libor Hajek being scratched.
Jones, 21, was selected by the Blueshirts in the third round of the 2019 NHL Entry Draft. This season with the Pack he has 18 points in 25 games. The young dynamic defender has also skated with the Rangers in three games this season, with no points. In his NHL career, he has 4 assists in 13 games.
The other key move is Nils Lundkvist being recalled to the taxi squad. It is possible he could get another chance soon with the big club.
Knoblauch on Lundkvist and Jones
Zac Jones and Nils Lundkvist were being used as a pair down in Hartford prior to these moves. Head coach Kris Knoblauch provided some feedback on both last week.
“They are very smart hockey players. They provide both offensively and defensively,” Knoblauch said of the pairing. “They make good reads. I think they really separate themselves from other players with how well they move the puck.”
The Wolf Pack head coach then expanded on the strengths of each player.
“Jones can create offensive with his passing and his mobility on the blue-line beating a guy one on one,” he said.
“We’re starting to get to know Nils. He does possess those traits Jones has, perhaps not as dynamic,” Knoblauch said of the rookie. “Nils is a threat because his shot is dangerous and we saw that on the power play when he ripped a one-timer off the crossbar.”
Lundkvist, 21, had four points (1G, 3A) in 25 games with a +4 rating prior to being sent down. He was in and out of the lineup sporadically despite having played in two of the Rangers best defensive performances. A 4-0 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning at MSG on 1/2 and a 4-1 lights out clinic against the Ducks on 1/8 in Anaheim.
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