The New York Rangers have made it apparent through their words and deeds that they think Zac Jones should have a chance to play in their top six defensive group come next season. It will thus be up to Jones to seize the opportunity to take Erik Gustafsson’s spot on the third pairing when training camp gets underway in September.
After one successful season with the Blueshirts, Gustafsson inked a two-year, $4 million contract with the Detroit Red Wings this offseason. Rather of inserting an experienced player to take Gustafsson’s place, the Rangers took no action, evidently thinking that Jones, who is about to turn 24 years old, was now ready to take up a regular position in the starting lineup.
Reuniting with Chad Ruhwedel on a League-minimum contract to serve as the team’s seventh or eighth defenseman provided depth, and that was their only other noteworthy defensive move.
Thus, it was clear from the Rangers’ activities that they intended to replace Gustafsson for the upcoming campaign. Now, New York’s actions were supported by coach Peter Laviolette’s statements.
According to Laviolette, “Zac Jones got better every single time he played for us,” NHL.com. “He needed to bring that.
Erik Gustafsson will be replaced by Zac Jones in the Rangers defense corps.
Now that Jones has played in just 69 NHL games over the course of four seasons, it looks like he will get his chance this autumn. He might partner with 22-year-old Braden Schneider, who appears destined for top-four play sooner rather than later, or veteran captain Trouba. In any case, he has the right to lose that third partnering position.
Jones doesn’t provide size or physicality to the defense corps at 5-foot-10 and 176 pounds. That would appear to go against what they would need in the back end, particularly given how the Rangers struggled to manage the Florida Panthers’ unrelenting physical play in the Eastern Conference Final this past spring.
Still, Jones is among the Rangers defensemen with the best puck movement skills; Fox may be the only one to top him in this regard.
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