New York Rangers defenseman Zac Jones has finally spoke out on being disrespected by the organization throughout the last few seasons.![Zac Jones]()
As Jones sees more ice time this season, he has found a new perspective as instead of being traded GM Chris Drury kept him around, and Peter Laviolette found a spot for him on the team.
Amid GM Chris Drury's retooling of the lineup, we weren't sure whether Jones would be one to be traded or moved, as earlier in the season he was given permission to talk to other teams.
But nothing would materialize, and with the team's lack of stability for Jones he'd have to figure out how to cope with the fact nothing was certain.
«The lows suck some days and the highs are great some days,» Jones said. «It is what it is in this business sometimes. Being the seventh defenseman last year really opened my eyes to different things in life, not taking everything personally per se and kind of just rolling with the punches. I try to be as even keel as possible.
«Obviously some days you're going to be better than others, some days you're going to be worse than others, but if I can be even keel no matter what happens, whether I play great or whether I play terribly. It's about staying the course the whole year and trying to maintain a positive mindset the whole time.»
«Obviously some days you're going to be better than others, some days you're going to be worse than others, but if I can be even keel no matter what happens, whether I play great or whether I play terribly. It's about staying the course the whole year and trying to maintain a positive mindset the whole time.»
But whatever he's done, he's convinced Head Coach Peter Laviolette and GM Drury that he's ready to be an NHL-caliber defenseman.
Despite being pushed out of the lineup by Urho Vaakanainen, he has to figure out how to remain calm and play his best game in order to be a player the team relies on when an injury occurs.
«It's definitely not something I ever envisioned myself going through or ever wanted to go through,» Jones said about consistently getting scratched out of the lineup. «It definitely opens your eyes a little bit that's for sure, but somebody's gotta do it and that's the business sometimes.»
Instead of complaining, he'd voice his frustration once, put his head down, and go back to work. His game would impress Peter Laviolette, earning your coach's trust is valuable and it has proved to be for Jones.
Instead of complaining, he'd voice his frustration once, put his head down, and go back to work. His game would impress Peter Laviolette, earning your coach's trust is valuable and it has proved to be for Jones.
«He's a guy that comes into work every day and for the most part is in a good mood,» Laviolette said of Jones. «He works hard and practices hard. He's played hard as well. He's come in and given us some good minutes.
«The whole time I've been here, he's contributed and has done really well. To me, he's been real professional about it. He comes in, he works out hard in the gym, he works out hard on the ice, he plays hard in games. He's been a great teammate, so you can't ask for anything more.»
That trust has earned him a spot in the last twelve games for a Rangers team that has shifted priorities as players are being traded and injured.
He'd find himself with some playing time on the Rangers' top-power play unit when Adam Fox was out of the lineup, where he felt he truly thrived as a defenseman.
«I think that's one of my strong suits, being on the power play,» Jones said. «It's something that I take a lot of pride in. Something growing up I wanted to do. I think I do a good job of moving up there, finding shooting lanes, finding passing lanes, trying to get other guys open. It's not much of an adjustment per se, just different ice time.»
He's surpassed the amount of games played last season (30) with 42 games wearing a blue shirt in 2024-2025.
Jones has improved his play significantly since then, scoring 11 points (1 G, 10 A) and 17:05 TOI.
He feels that his game has continued to improve on the ice, and hopes to keep his trajectory like his hopes, upward.
«I think my defensive game has gotten better, as far as being aggressive on guys in the D-zone,» Jones said. «Obviously there are still little things I need to clean up, but defensively I think I've steadily improved the whole year.»
Jones has shown earlier in the season he is a reliable defenseman, but the team didn't have the spot in the lineup for him.
