The enthusiasm in Jacob Trouba’s voice was palpable when the captain started talking about Brayden Schneider and Zach Jones. They are two of the Rangers’ young defensemen who have thrived with extra time and responsibility amid a rash of injuries on the back end.
When Trouba returned for Arizona on Saturday after missing 11 games with a lower-body injury, Schneider was a revelation to move into the top four alongside Quandre Miller. Jones made a huge impression by playing in a career-high 13 straight games in place of countless injured teammates while de-designating a seventh defenseman.
“I couldn’t be more excited that Schneize came off the bench and Jones scored and played well,” Trouba said of Monday’s game against the Penguins, who also played at the Garden. He previously spoke to the Post. “These are players who have worked hard over the past few years and I’ve gotten to know them a lot more than just hockey.
“I guess they like to see them getting paid for their work, their time, their effort and how good their teammates are. Jonesy hasn’t played much in the last few years, but now he’s joining. Everyone here is excited for him and I’m excited for him.
“In years past, when guys scored, it was like, ‘Oh, we scored.’ Now we’re all excited for each other,” No. 8 said. “If it’s rough [Alexis Lafreniere] When a goal is scored, the players become enthusiastic about it. It’s something special at the end of this year. It doesn’t really matter who scores or who plays, the players are excited about everyone. ”
And according to Trouba, that’s largely due to the dynamic that head coach Peter Laviolette instilled from day one. Eleven months after sweet dreams, the Rangers are hurtling towards the finish line of one of the best seasons in franchise history. Last spring, flying machines were left in pieces on the ground in Newark.
Of course, there was a coaching change after seven straight losses to the Devils exposed the team’s dysfunction. Gerard Gallant, whose laissez-faire approach had not yet resonated with the group, was replaced by LaViolette, an extremely detail-oriented man who preached structure and unity from day one.
When I asked what Laviolette brought to the group, what might have been missing, Trouba focused on the shadows. Laviolette has a stern look and is not one to make a fuss, but the 59-year-old has a sensitive and emotional side that seems inherently contradictory.
But that’s not the case. That’s something Laviolette has maintained throughout his career. Laviolette was still a candidate before being hired, but multiple sources spoke of the sense of community the coach and his wife Kristen fostered.
“One of the most important things he brought was positive energy from the beginning. Even if something negative happened, instead of focusing on the negative, always focus on the positive. ” said No. 8.
“And I think that permeates through our team. It’s all about positivity.”
Of course, you also have to be able to perform. When asked Jimmy Vesey about the qualities Laviolette instilled in the team, the winger’s answer focused on all the positives.
“The simple answer is structure,” No. 26 said. “Every team has some kind of structure, but I think the 1-3-1 is something that you can fall back on when you’ve given up too much and hit your limits, something you can fall back on like a security blanket. Masu” . That didn’t happen last year.
“Secondly, the emphasis is on defense. I think we’ve been defending pretty hard, especially lately. We’ve just gotten through some team challenges and we can’t perfect our game, but we hasn’t given up much.
“I think we defended hard,” Vesey said. “He emphasizes closing on this side and getting into the opponent’s pocket. That frustrates teams. And lately I think the 1-3-1 is starting to frustrate teams. Maybe. , we could have gotten better at it.”
There is a sense of touch. There is an edgy play. It’s a black and white cookie. A gathering after practice. More intrigue from the Captain:
“It’s like a moment of unity and compassion,” Trouba said. “At the end of the day, it’s about looking out for each other and caring for your teammates on a deeper level than just working together. That applies to any job, not just hockey. It’s about having an appreciation for each other and that is reflected in everything.
“Hockey can be difficult and stressful at times. If someone is down or dealing with a problem, you kind of pull that person back into the fold. The core of the team is positivity. And I think that has done a lot for us this year and boosted our attitude and our energy.”
Finally, more hilarious comments from Vesey:
“Last year didn’t end as anyone expected and I think there was definitely a recognition that more structure was needed,” he said. “I think his track record and system were perfect for us.
“It was a pretty hard training camp, with a lot of emphasis on competition and fighting. It all has to do with tightening up the defense and being tough to play against.
“I think it was a perfect match.”
