Peter Laviolette is giving Zac Jones every opportunity to make the Rangers opening night roster.
Zac Jones is a player to watch out for as New York Rangers training camp approaches.
Through the past few seasons, Jones has played a handful of games for the Rangers, but hasn’t been able to stay with the team consistently.
This past year with injuries plaguing the Rangers blueline, Jones played a total of 31 games and took full advantage.
The 23-year-old showed flashes of his high potential while he recorded two goals, seven assists and nine points.
At the time, Rangers coach Peter Laviolette had only positive things to say about the young defenseman.
“He’s worked his tail off every practice and every day,” Laviolette said. “He’s gotten an opportunity to jump back in. He’s waited, he’s been patient, worked hard to get the opportunity and he’s jumped back in and played excellent again.”
The Rangers lost Erik Gustafsson this offseason, which could lead to an opening for Jones to slide into the lineup.
Laviolette made clear that Jones will be given a fair shot to earn a roster spot with the Blueshirts.
“Zac Jones got better every single time he played for us,” Laviolette said via NHL.com. “He had to bring that out in himself every time we called his number, and it wasn't on a consistent basis. When he got the opportunity, he was fantastic. Certainly, he's going to get a long look in training camp.”
Many fans have been clamoring to see Jones in the lineup and he would certainly bring a sense of youth to New York’s defensive core.
Jones has spent a lot of time with the Hartford Wolf Pack and he seems to be improving each and every year.
He’s shown what he is capable of at the highest level of competition, something that should excite all Rangers fans going into the 2024-25 season.
It’s time for Jones to prove he is prepared to take the next step in his career and become an NHL regular with the Rangers.
