Controlling What He Can Control: A 1-on-1 Conversation With Rangers Defencemen Zac Jones

It's not easy being the seventh defensemen in the National Hockey League. 

You practice, but you often don't play. When you do, the minutes can be scarce. But for Zac Jones, who has only appeared in now three of the New York Rangers' 12 games so far, each day with the big club is a valuable learning experience. 

Jones' focus is coming in with a good attitude and controlling what he can control. It's a mantra that has already caught the eye of his head coach.

"He's been outstanding," said head coach Peter Laviolette. "He's worked hard everyday. His attitude has been unbelievable … awesome, everyday. Works hard... he's got a smile on his face and not being in the lineup sometimes can cause you to sour and you're kind of …not working, you're just frustrated with having to skate or work. He's done everything we've asked. He's really, really easy to work with."

I had a 1-on-1 conversation with Jones after Tuesday morning's optional skate (which Jones obviously took part in) to talk about how he's adjusted this year as well as his lifestyle away from the rink.

Below is our conversation:

Jonny Lazarus: Can you talk about how you've maintained the positivity and finally having the opportunity to come into the lineup and make a difference?

Zac Jones: Obviously guys wouldn't be in this situation if they weren't wanting to play every night. It's tough to come in and have a good face everyday, but you know, last year I felt like I learned a lot. Being a scratch, being in and out of the lineup, learning how to handle myself better...I took that into account this summer. I felt like I just had to come in with a good attitude, knowing that we had a lot of good defensemen, a lot of good players here that...you know...some night's I'm not going to be in the lineup, I get that. We got a good team here. I think the biggest thing for me is just coming in with a good attitude everyday...no matter what is, just coming in and controlling what I can control, working hard and going from there. 

JL: Has anyone taken you under their wing this year or is there a guy you spend a lot of time with that's helped you?

ZJ: Not as much I'd say. Everybody here's been great. Everybody here is great, we've got a great group of guys in the locker room. It's not one single person that's really helped me. It's the whole group that's been super good to me, super good to everybody. I feel like there's no bad people in this locker room and no bad people in this organization as a whole. I mean, it's really easy to come to the rink with a smile on your face.

JL: I know you're living in a hotel right now and have been for about a year, how does that effect your lifestyle and routine away from the rink?

ZJ: It's tough some days. 

JL: Not Suite Life of Zack & Cody? 

ZJ: Yea, I wish haha. Definitely not that nice, but gets the job done. I can't complain. Obviously there's a lot of pros and cons to it, but you know, it is what it is. It's pretty easy to do my routine everyday no matter where it is, hotel or an apartment. 

JL: Night before a game, do you have any kind of ritual? A restaurant you go to or a meal you eat? I was always an ice cream the night before a game kind of guy and that's why I'm not here and you are.

ZJ: Haha, I'd say the biggest thing is just chicken and pasta. No matter where it's from. No matter if I cook it, my girlfriend cooks it or if I order it from Uber Eats. 

JL: Big Uber Eats guy?

ZJ: Yeah, I love Uber Eats. God... it's too dangerous. 

JL: Coming to the rink for morning skate, any difference in the routine between skating in Westchester and Madison Square Garden?

ZJ: I wake up an hour later.

JL: Here? [Westchester]

ZJ: I'm 10 minutes away from here [Westchester]. You always want to account for traffic in the city. So, we skate at say 10:30 MSG, I'm leaving at 7:30 or so just to give myself enough time just in case something happens, but here I can leave my hotel at 8:30, 8:45, 9 o'clock and be here with more than enough time. So, definitely the extra sleep I like haha. 

JL: Can you talk about your relationship with Laviolette so far? He had such high praise for you when I spoke to him earlier. Anything stand out with you? 

ZJ: He's been great. I've loved his coaching style so far. I've loved his attitude in the locker room whether it's being hard on guys or making it light everyday. It makes it really fun to come to the rink everyday. He's a great coach, great person and it's very easy to talk to him about anything. So it's been really good. 

JL: Do you have any pre-game music? What fires you up before a game? 

ZJ: It honestly depends on the day. Some days I'm a big Rock & Roll guy. Old AC/DC stuff like that, Motley Crue. 

JL: A little Hells Bells?

ZJ: I love that, I love Hells Bells, haha. Then some days I'm just feeling the new style EDM, rap, stuff like that. Honestly, depends on the day and depends on how I'm feeling after my nap I'd say. 

JL: What do you do after a game to turn your brain off? Is there a Netflix show or something you're watching right now?

ZJ: There's nothing I've really been watching right now. I just throw on SportsCenter or some sort of sports and just try to see how the days went. See how other teams have gone, turn on NHL Network and try to ease my brain down that way I guess. It's tough after games. You have so much adrenaline, you really can't fall asleep right, but I've gotten better at it I'd say. Just trying to get back to the hotel, eat, and kind of relax. 

Though Jones is the seventh defenseman these days, with Adam Fox currently sidelined there is a great opportunity for Jones to step up and have a nightly role for the Rangers. He's a well-liked guy in the room and from what I can tell, everyone in this organization wants to see him succeed.