Why Rangers ‘need (Zac Jones) here’ even though defenseman hasn’t played in month

NHL: St. Louis Blues at New York Rangers
Credit: Danny Wild-Imagn Images

The New York Rangers have had much success in the month of January, vaulting back into Stanley Cup playoff contention with an 8-2-3 record. But there’s one member of the Rangers who might be happy to move on from January.

Zac Jones hasn’t appeared in a single game this month. In fact, the 24-year-old defenseman will be a healthy scratch for the 16th consecutive game when the Rangers host the Carolina Hurricanes on Tuesday at Madison Square Garden. He last dressed for a 5-0 loss to the New Jersey Devils on Dec. 23.

The thing is, the Rangers finally have lineup stability, rather than players rotating in and out on what seemed like a daily basis back when the Rangers were in a 4-15-0 rut in November and December. And that stability may have helped calm things down, especially following the trades of captain Jacob Trouba and forward Kaapo Kakko.

Pretty much everyone on the roster has benefited. And pretty much all are thriving to different extents.

Everyone, that is, except for Jones, who was openly upset with his lack of playing time earlier this month.

Coach Peter Laviolette was asked after the morning skate Tuesday if the Rangers might send Jones to Hartford of the American Hockey League on a conditioning stint.

“Those things are discussed between (general manager Chris Drury) and myself and what’s best for the team,” Laviolette explained Tuesday. “Right now we need him here. He’s a part of our team and he’s played good minutes for us. If needed on, I know he’ll go in and do a good job, but right now he’s needed here.”

Jones, who has eight points (one goal, seven assists) in 26 games, first lost playing time to rookie Victor Mancini early in the season. Most recently, the additions of Will Borgen and Urho Vaakanainen have solidified the blue line and landed Jones a pretty permanent seat in the press box.

But the newcomers have been good. So much so that Borgen just signed a five-year, $20.5 million contract extension.

Jones must remain patient, something that’s been asked of him many times before, since this situation is not new for him. The Rangers are currently playing their best defensive hockey of the season, so there is no reason for Laviolette to switch up the pairings.

Related: Rangers ‘curious’ to get look at Hurricanes after massive Mikko Rantanen trade

Rangers ‘like to roll four lines’ during successful month in January

NHL: Columbus Blue Jackets at New York Rangers
Danny Wild-Imagn Images

One group of forwards that’s really found a groove over the last month is the line of Mika Zibanejad, Reilly Smith, and Will Cuylle. While not the most explosive line offensively, the trio has often been tasked with facing the oppositions top players, and have contributed in a big way to the Rangers defensive success.

That being said, Laviolette is not willing to go as far as to call them a ‘shut-down line’.

“I think shut down is the wrong term for it,” mentioned Laviolette. “(Zibanejad) isn’t there to shut somebody down. I believe that they’re all pretty good two-way players. We want them on the attack, we would like to see them out-chance and out-score the opposition. There’s no restrictions or regulations on what they can or can’t do against team’s top lines. They play against the other team’s top lines because I think they’re fairly responsible defensively.”

Zibanejad has especially benefitted from the newfound success with this line. After recording a minus-11 in November and a minus-8 in December, he’s minus-2 in January. He also doubled his point total from December to January, scoring three goals and eight points this month.

While by no means the rate of production that Zibanejad used to be capable of on a nightly basis, it is still a vast improvement from the rate he was playing at early in the season. And, to Laviolette’s point, Zibanejad, Smith, and Cuylle draw the toughest matchups on a nightly basis.

“I think that line has drawn some tough assignments,” Laviolette said. “I think they’ve done a pretty good job with that. I think from a defensive standpoint, they’ve been pretty good playing against top lines, and then offensively I still see them attacking production.”

Another line that has found solid chemistry is the third line of Chris Kreider, Filip Chytil, and Arthur Kaliyev. The trio’s scored nine goals in the month of January, three by Kreider, four from Chytil, and two from Kaliyev.

This new combination has helped spread out the depth among the top four lines. So, has the improved play this month of the fourth line with Sam Carrick, Matt Rempe and Adam Edstrom.

“I think the lines played well,” Laviolette said. “They’re all contributing offense and goals, they’ve all chipped in a couple. I think the (third) line’s been good, it gives us good balance. I like to roll the four lines right now. We’ve found a decent amount of success with the lines that we’ve used, so I’m not going to change the lines right now.”

Rightfully so. The Rangers have just two regulation losses in 2025 (8-2-3), and are climbing back up the standings after being tied for last place in the Metropolitan Division. They now sit just three points back of a wild-card spot with that big game Tuesday against their division rival Hurricanes next on the slate.

Dane Walsh is a life-long fan of the New York Rangers. Growing up in the tri-state area, Dane has ... More about Dane Walsh
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