Zac Jones playing steady game for Rangers in regular role
Now in his fifth season with the New York Rangers, defenseman Zac Jones has finally become a regular in the lineup to start the 2024-25 season. Through four games, Jones has been steady on the third defense pair with rookie Victor Mancini, earning one assist and a plus-4 rating, helping New York get off to a 3-0-1 start.
Jones, who turned 24 on Friday, has been a breath of fresh air for the Rangers defense, who desperately needed a puck-mover like Jones on the third pair to help with transition and breaking the puck out of New York’s zone. He and Mancini excel in this area.
All’s not perfect, though. Jones is tied for the second-most giveaways on the Rangers with six, and the Rangers have been outchanced 26-22 with him on the ice, per Natural Stat Trick. Jones has been on ice for seven high-danger chances for and 12 against. But the Rangers have outscored opponents 5-1 with Jones on the ice.
Jones passes the eye test, as does Mancini. There’s no panic in their own end, and each moves the puck well. After playing 31 games as the extra defenseman last season, Jones is primed to be a regular this season. He’s already averaging an NHL career-high 15:45 TOI.
Related: Rangers face tough decision when Ryan Lindgren returns from injury
Zac Jones likely to remain in lineup when Ryan Lindgren returns
Though Jones and Mancini have played well together to this point, that pairing could be broken up with the return of Ryan Lindgren, who has missed the first four games of the season with an upper-body injury. Assuming Lindgren returns to his normal spot alongside Adam Fox, it is likely that Mancini will be the odd man out, which seems like a disservice for the 22-year-old who has played so well for New York, and just picked up his first NHL goal in a 5-2 win against the Detroit Red Wings on Thursday.
Does this put Mancini and Jones in a battle to remain in the lineup? The short answer: not really. Mancini is the only waivers-exempt defenseman, meaning he can be sent down to New York’s AHL affiliate, the Hartford Wolf Pack, without the possibility of being claimed by another team on waivers.
If Jones or Chad Ruhwedel, who has been a healthy scratch in all four games and is the veteran extra defenseman, were to be sent down, each would need to clear waivers. That’s a risk that general manager Chris Drury is likely unwilling to take, especially since he’d rather have Ruhwedel sit and be insurance and let Mancini play big minutes at Hartford.
So, unfortunately for Mancini, he will likely return to Hartford as soon as Lindgren is cleared to play, leaving Jones to stay on the third pair with either Braden Schneider or Jacob Trouba. To start, coach Peter Laviolette will likely reunite Trouba with K’Andre Miller, leaving Jones and Schneider as the third pair.
Jones has been paired in the past with Schneider and Trouba, and his style of play should complement either partner. After four seasons of apprenticeship, Jones has earned the right to be a lineup regular, and he’s done nothing to warrant coming out of the lineup.
More About:New York Rangers News