More big news from the Land of Insurance Premiums, goaltender Matt Zaba has been reassigned to the ECHL’s Charlotte Checkers. As we mentioned last night on the Rangers Crisis radio program, Zaba has not looked the same as the nearly impenetrable brick wall that he was last season when he put up some amazing statistics (25-10-0, 2.33GAA and 92.0%) since the preseason game when the New Jersey Devils lit him up.
Since the beginning of the season, Zaba is 0-1-0 with a 4.84GAA and an 84.6%. He’s allowed eight goals on only 52 shots and has just looked shaky.
Zaba sustained a concussion on a very cheap shot on October 10th at the XL Center against Springfield. Liam Reddox, who dropped his shoulder right into Zaba’s head as he was sending the puck out of the zone as the buzzer sounded ending the second period, received a one game suspension for the hit.
Zaba told Howlings earlier in the week that he was feeling back to normal. In all likelihood this move is being done to give Zaba some more playing time and to rebuild his confidence.
This should mean that Miika Wiikman will regain the number one shot with rookie Chad Johnson in the backup role until Zaba recovers.
For those into this sort of thing, here’s the official release:
Hartford Wolf Pack general manager Jim Schoenfeld announced today that the parent New York Rangers have reassigned goaltender Matt Zaba from the Wolf Pack to the team’s ECHL affiliate, the Charlotte Checkers.
Zaba had been out of action since being injured at the end of the first period of the Wolf Pack’s home-opening, 7-3 win vs. Springfield October 10. In two appearances, and action totaling 99 minutes, Zaba was 0-1-0, with eight goals-against on 52 shots (4.84 goals-against average, 84.6% save percentage).
Last season with the Wolf Pack, Zaba, a third-year pro, was 25-10-0 with a 2.33 GAA, a 92.0% save percentage and two shutouts in 41 games.
The Wolf Pack return to action tomorrow night, Friday, October 23, at Adirondack, facing off against the Phantoms in a 7:30 game (WTIC HD-2, www.hartfordwolfpack.com, www.wtic.com). The Pack are then back on home ice at the XL Center this Saturday, October 24, with the Lowell Devils in town (7:00 faceoff), and Sunday, October 25, vs. the Worcester Sharks (3:00).
Single-game tickets for 2009-10 Hartford Wolf Pack regular season home games are on sale now at the XL Center box office, through Ticketmaster Charge-by-Phone at 1-800-745-3000 and on-line at www.hartfordwolfpack.com.
The Wolf Pack is offering “Knockout Season Ticket Prices” for 2009-10, with across-the-board price reductions of 8-13% depending on the seat location, as well as terrific discounts for groups of 15 or more. For more information, visit www.hartfordwolfpack.com, or call the Wolf Pack ticket office at (860) 548-2000 to talk with an account executive today about all of the Wolf Pack’s many ticket options.
In other sort-of Pack related news, former Pack captain Craig Weller was assigned to the Providence Bruins by the parent club in Boston.
(Photo courtesy of Hartfordwolfpack.com)
Related
Mitch Beck
Related posts
1 Comment
Leave a Reply Cancel reply
Top picks
WOLF PACK SIGN ISAAC DUFORT TO CONTRACT
By: Alex Thomas, Hartford Wolf Pack HARTFORD, CT – New York Rangers Assistant General Manager and Hartford Wolf Pack General Manager Ryan Martin announced today that the club has agreed to terms with forward Isaac Dufort on a one-year, standard AHL player contract. Dufort, 21, scored 46 points (27 g, 19 a) in 59 games with the QMJHL’s Baie-Comeau Drakkar…
SHAY COSTA REPORTING…CATCHING UP ON PAST COLLEGE AND WOLF PACK
EDITOR’S NOTE: Shay Costa worked hard covering these games and deserved to have them published. my full-time job has caused me to have to work close to 100 hours a week, and I haven’t had the time to post them. Getting them all posted here is important. She deserves respect for the effort she put in… – Mitch Beck All…
WOLF PACK – CATCHING UP ON PAST NEWS
By: Alex Thomas, Hartford Wolf Pack RANGERS RECALL 13 FROM WOLF PACK HARTFORD, CT – New York Rangers President and General Manager Chris Drury announced today that the club has recalled 13 players from the AHL’s Hartford Wolf Pack. The club recalled seven forwards, five defensemen, and one goaltender from Hartford. Forwards: Alex Belzile, Brett Berard, Anton Blidh, Jake Leschyshyn,…
WOLF PACK ENJOYS STRONG 2023-24 SEASON IN THE COMMUNITY AND AT THE BOX OFFICE
By: Alex Thomas, Hartford Wolf Pack HARTFORD, CT – The Hartford Wolf Pack completed another successful season both on and off the ice last week. On the ice, the club advanced to the Atlantic Division Finals of the Calder Cup Playoffs for the second consecutive season, winning two playoff rounds in the process. Off the ice, the Wolf Pack enjoyed…
HOCKEY HALL OF FAME TO SEEK NEW PRES AND CEO
HOCKEY HALL OF FAME ANNOUNCES UPCOMING SEARCH FOR THE NEXT PRESIDENT AND CEO By: Kelly Masse, Hockey Hall of Fame TORONTO (June 26, 2024)—Lanny McDonald, Chair of the Board of the Hockey Hall of Fame, announced today that long-time executive Jeff Denomme will retire from the office of President and CEO following the next annual general meeting in spring 2025….
WOLF PACK SIGN ISAAC DUFORT TO CONTRACT
By: Alex Thomas, Hartford Wolf Pack HARTFORD, CT – New York Rangers Assistant General Manager and Hartford Wolf Pack General Manager Ryan Martin announced today that the club has agreed to terms with forward Isaac Dufort on a one-year, standard AHL player contract. Dufort, 21, scored 46 points (27 g, 19 a) in 59 games with the QMJHL’s Baie-Comeau Drakkar…
SHAY COSTA REPORTING…CATCHING UP ON PAST COLLEGE AND WOLF PACK
EDITOR’S NOTE: Shay Costa worked hard covering these games and deserved to have them published. my full-time job has caused me to have to work close to 100 hours a week, and I haven’t had the time to post them. Getting them all posted here is important. She deserves respect for the effort she put in… – Mitch Beck All…
WOLF PACK – CATCHING UP ON PAST NEWS
By: Alex Thomas, Hartford Wolf Pack RANGERS RECALL 13 FROM WOLF PACK HARTFORD, CT – New York Rangers President and General Manager Chris Drury announced today that the club has recalled 13 players from the AHL’s Hartford Wolf Pack. The club recalled seven forwards, five defensemen, and one goaltender from Hartford. Forwards: Alex Belzile, Brett Berard, Anton Blidh, Jake Leschyshyn,…
SWAMP RABBITS ANNOUNCE 23-24 SEASON-ENDING ROSTER
The list features 20 players for the next stage of offseason roster maintenance By: Mark Binetti, Greenville Swamp Rabbits GREENVILLE, S.C. – The Greenville Swamp Rabbits, proud ECHL affiliate of the NHL’s Los Angeles Kings, announced today the team’s 2023-24 Season Ending Roster. The following 20 players are on the 2023-24 Season Ending Roster, as submitted by new Head Coach…
SWAMP RABBITS NAME KYLE MOUNTAIN HEAD COACH
Former NCAA-III bench boss served as Assistant Coach in 2023-24 By: Mark Binetti, Greenville Swamp Rabbits GREENVILLE, S.C. – The Greenville Swamp Rabbits, proud ECHL affiliate of the NHL’s Los Angeles Kings, announced that Kyle Mountain has been elevated from Assistant Coach and has been appointed the fifth Head Coach/Director of Hockey Operations of the Greenville Swamp Rabbits. “We’re excited to continue…
SWAMP RABBITS RELEASE 2024-25 SCHEDULE
The season begins at home on October 18th in the Kelly Cup Playoff rematch By: Mark Binetti, Greenville Swamp Rabbits GREENVILLE, S.C. – The Greenville Swamp Rabbits, the proud ECHL affiliate of the NHL’s Los Angeles Kings, announced the team’s schedule for the 2024-25 ECHL Season, presented by Bon Secours. A schedule detailing promotions and specialty jerseys will be revealed…
CINCINNATI CYCLONES RELEASE 2024-25 SCHEDULE
72-game regular season schedule is revealed By: Dana Grey, Cincinnati Cyclones CINCINNATI, OH – The Cincinnati Cyclones, along with the ECHL, have released the 2024-25 regular season schedule. Cincinnati begins the 72-game slate on the road against Kalamazoo on Saturday October 19th. The Cyclones then return to the Heritage Bank Center ice for “First Faceoff” the next weekend on Saturday…
The rumor this summer was that the Rangers were adding a veteran defenseman to their blue line. 47 Chris Chelios was one of the veterans whose name was mentioned more than a handful of times. Chelios recently signed a deal to play with the Chicago Wolves of the AHL. According to the NY Post: Rangers GM Glen Sather recently offered Chris Chelios an AHL contract to play in Hartford, but the veteran free agent defenseman rejected that offer to sign a deal with the Chicago Wolves in order to be closer to his family. The Rangers still appear to be looking for a seventh defenseman however, as Mathieu Dandenault was signed to a professional contract (25 games) to play in Hartford. Chelios has not ruled out playing for the Rangers, he just preferred staying in Chicago if he was going to be playing in the AHL. Sather will continue to watch Chelios before deciding who is the best option.