It’s clear when watching Zac Jones that he has potential to be an impactful NHL defenseman. He’s a top-notch skater who has impressive offensive instincts for a young blueliner, which are valuable skill sets. However, for large portions of last season and to start this year, the New York Rangers have made Jones a healthy scratch. What is it that Jones needs to do to fully earn the trust of Peter Laviolette and the rest of the coaching staff? The 24-year-old feels that he could improve upon his defensive game, ultimately helping him transform into a more complete defenseman. “Really my work in the D-zone,” Jones said about what part of his game he is looking to build. “Just being aggressive, being harder on guys. Obviously I’m not going to be a guy that goes out and kills people, but just want to use my stick, use my feet, positioning stuff like that. Being more of a factor defensively.” Stan Fischler talks about Matt Rempe. There is just another element that Jones still needs to unlock and that’s normal for any young player. Through six games this season, Jones has recorded two assists and two points while averaging 15:15 minutes pergame. He has all the tools to become a regular NHL’er and now it’s about putting it all together, something that should come with time.
