Zac Jones' two-year deal lights path to Rangers lineup
For Zac Jones, the path to a full-time spot in the Rangers’ lineup has never been clearer.
The Rangers signed the 22-year-old defenseman to a one-way, two-year deal – worth $800,000 in the first season and $825,000 in the second – on Friday, the team announced.
Signing Jones, who was a restricted free agent, for two years ensures both parties avoid arbitration next summer.
A one-year contract would have brought Jones’ qualifying offer near $1 million next season, which is a scary dollar figure if you’re counting pennies like the Rangers will be for the foreseeable future.
Under this tormenting cap crunch, the Rangers need Jones to seize a role in their top six now more than ever.
It is believed that the Rangers think Jones has outgrown the American Hockey League, which means the offensive-minded blueliner should be given every opportunity to establish himself as a full-time NHL player next season.
As the roster currently stands, Jones will be competing with returner Ben Harpur for the sixth defenseman role come training camp.
22-year-old defenseman Zac Jones signed a two-year deal with the Rangers Friday. Associated Press
Jones signed his entry-level contract at age 20, meaning he would have been waiver eligible this season, no matter if his new deal was one-way or two-way.
So, if it doesn’t work out with the Rangers, Jones will have to pass through waivers – and potentially be claimed by another team – to be assigned to the team’s AHL affiliate, the Hartford Wolf Pack.
The 68th-overall Rangers 2019 pick has spent the majority of the last two campaigns in Hartford.
In addition to combining for 17 goals and 49 assists in 106 regular-season AHL games, Jones chipped in two goals and four assists in nine playoff contests this year.
The UMass product has gotten most of his NHL opportunities in wake of injuries. This past season, however, Jones was jerked in and out of the Rangers lineup after making the team out of training camp.
Ex-head coach Gerard Gallant preferred a bigger body on the back end, which led to the Rangers signing Harpur and acquiring Niko Mikkola.
Jones only lasted on the Rangers roster until the beginning of December, when he was then assigned back to the AHL.
Jones has maintained an exceptional attitude as he’s worked his way up through the organization.
As a left-handed defenseman, Jones was far down the depth chart when he first signed with the Rangers in April 2021 and for the next two seasons.
He was behind the likes of Ryan Lindgren, K’Andre Miller (RFA), Libor Hajek (RFA with arbitration rights), Jarred Tinordi (now with Blackhawks) Jack Johnson (last with Chicago), Brendan Smith (now with Devils) and Patrik Nemeth (now with Coyotes).
The 5-foot-10, 178-pounder is a nifty puck-moving defenseman who can quarterback the power play and help the Rangers on breakouts.
There is bound to be a continuation of Jones’ adjustment period.
His occasional rookie mistakes made it difficult for Gallant to keep him in the lineup amid the Rangers’ underwhelming start to the 2022-23 season.
With an extended look in the lineup, Jones should have a better chance of figuring out how to minimize his defensive lapses and in turn, gain the necessary confidence to reach his full potential.
It will be interesting to see how new head coach Peter Laviolette deploys Jones, who has just one goal and seven assists in 38 games on his NHL resume.
This deal was completed just three days after the coaching hire, proving that Jones is a key part of the Rangers’ vision for the 2023-24 season.
It’s up to Jones to make it a reality.
Source: New York Post
