Shat’s all for Rangers’ D-man this year
Common sense prevailed regarding Rangers defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk, who finally on Tuesday was shut down for the remainder of the season. Shattenkirk desired to return this season after undergoing surgery in January to repair a torn meniscus, which he had been playing through since training camp, but with the end of the season drawing nearer and Shattenkirk not yet fully healed, him rushing back to play in a meaningless game or two didn’t make sense, as GM Jeff Gorton
At the other end of the spectrum is Joakim Noah, exiled in late January following an altercation with Hornacek during a practice session in Denver. Noah was upset that he was pulled from a game against Golden State after playing just five minutes.
The day before, Noah was told to be ready to play because several starters, including Porzingis, would not be available. And then Noah sat for more than three quarters and played just five minutes.
A criticism of Hornacek is that he doesn’t communicate well with players and define roles. In the case of Noah, you’re talking about an accomplished center who is a former Defensive Player of the Year, a former All-Star, and a top five finisher in the MVP voting several years ago. Is he that same player? No. But he’s earned enough in the league to be dealt with fairly. That one is on Hornacek.
The other high profile flare up involved forward Kyle O’Quinn, who was shown on MSG Network screaming profanities at Hornacek said.
In the same breath the Rangers — who were officially eliminated from the playoffs Tuesday for the first time since the 2009-10 season — announced rookie goaltender Alexandar Georgiev was being sent back to AHL Hartford.
Henrik Lundqvist has recovered from neck and back soreness after missing the last three games and will start Wednesday in Washington, and with Ondrej Pavelec recovered from his MCL sprain, Georgiev will return to starting for Hartford. Undrafted and signed last summer after impressing during development camp, the after the head coach yelled at O’Quinn for not closing out quickly enough on Karl-Anthony Towns.
Like Noah, Hornacek has accomplished enough in the league as both a player and coach to be dealt with fairly and with respect. This one is on O’Quinn.
“I’d be the first one to say that my wrong reaction was the wrong one,” O’Quinn said on Sunday. “I shouldn’t have come back. Just because somebody is yelling at me, I shouldn’t yell back. Two wrongs don’t make a right.”
Got that? Hornacek was apparently wrong for coaching.
O’Quinn is a solid role player whom the front office feels is a strong locker room presence for a young roster. That episode against the Timberwolves, which wasn’t an isolated incident, is not the type of leadership the Knicks and Hornacek need.
Hornacek was loyal to O’Quinn. He played him ahead of Noah and Willy Hernangomez. One was sent home, the other sent packing. And that’s how a veteran who has yet to appear in a single playoff game reacts publicly to his coach?
It was a terrible look for O’Quinn and the Knicks. But in the results/relationships world of head coaches it will ultimately be bad for Hornacek. And it shouldn’t. 22-year-old Georgiev had a .926 save percentage through his first nine appearances before being pulled in the first period Monday night against the Capitals, having allowed three goals on six shots.
KREIDER NOMINATED: Chris Kreider, who battled a blood clot this season, was voted the Rangers’ Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy nominee by the New York chapter of the Professional Hockey Writers Association.
The Masterton Trophy is awarded annually to the NHL player “who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to hockey.”