LD Zac Jones - UMass (Amherst), NCAA (2019, 68th, NYR)

[Pavel Buchnevich]

I’ve watched him play a number of times now and I don’t know why it’s viewed as an insult to say he’s similar to Fox. Maybe I wouldn’t have thought of that comparison if Fox wasn’t a Ranger, but I think they play similarly. And while Jones is an adequate functional skater, his acceleration for a smaller defensemen is very average. I’m not budging on that. He has an elite hockey IQ, like Fox. His feel for the game in all zones is the best part of his skill-set, in my opinion.

 

[rangersfansince08]

I think almost everybody else is saying his skating is great.

 

[Mark Edwards]

I think almost everybody else is saying his skating is great.

Skating is fine but it's not great IMO. If it was "great" he would've been selected a lot earlier. Skating was the stopper for several scouts I spoke to about him.

I'm saying this as someone who is a big fan of his game and ranked him pretty high.

 

[Son of Petter]

A lot of “experts” are saying that his skating has improved more than anything else

 

[Mark Edwards]

A lot of “experts” are saying that his skating has improved more than anything else

I'll note that my comments were based on last season and how it impacted the draft. I have not seen him this season.

 

[PB37]

He reminds me a lot of Krug when I watch him play ( limited viewing ). He doesn't have as good of a slapper, but his wrist and snap shot is solid. I'll also say that I'm not impressed with his acceleration for a smaller guy, but it's not horrible. Krug is that way as well for about 80 percent of the time then all of a sudden he decides to turn it on and he blows right past guys.

Rangers are collecting quite the treasure trove of riches on the back end.

 

[The Sweetness]

So after checking out this guys highlight vids and some shift by shift stuff I’m really impressed with his skating.

I feel we focus on speed far too often when it’s one element of skating and it’s often far less important than edges, shiftiness, balance, footwork, strength on skates and overall body control on the ice.

Jones just seems to have great control of his edges and his mind and body seem to be in sync when he’s out on the ice. He reminds of of guys who combine great core strength with good edges, who are a total pain to play against. Based on my limited viewings he’s a great skater all things considered, especially when he actually needs to put on some moves.

It of course helps he is a smart player and good with the puck as well. He almost seems to speed up when he had the puck.

Edit: grammar and clarity

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

I thought he was one of the few Americans who played well today, and that included a very nice assist on the first goal where he shot for the deflection. Jones ran the PP exceptionally well, and I thought he was effective at moving the puck and defending. His passing is so accurate. He places passes over sticks of the opposition and right onto the tape of his teammates like its nothing. And he has such incredible poise with the puck. He might only have average acceleration, but I find that he buys himself the time he needs with the puck due to his poise with the puck that other players might buy themself with their speed. Really good hockey sense, as well.

Jones is one of my favorite Rangers prospects. Probably my second favorite Rangers prospect after Shestyorkin, so I'm biased, but I think he might be the best prospect around the league that people don't know about.

 

[emptyNedder]

He might only have average acceleration, but I find that he buys himself the time he needs with the puck due to his poise with the puck that other players might buy themself with their speed. Really good hockey sense, as well.

I haven't seen him play this year. But when I watched shift-by-shift video prior to the draft, Jones always seemed to be a step ahead of the opposition—it wasn't speed, but the ability to move himself and the puck to spots that were open when he arrived.

 

[QJL]

He played well today but I can’t help but notice this casual nature to his game. He threw a lot of pucks at the net off balance or in his back foot. I’d like to see him a little more “locked in”. There is no doubt he has a skill to be a difference maker in this tournament and a dymanic offensive defenseman at the next level.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

Jones is looking like the best Rangers pick outside the first round since 2014.

 

[MitchMurphy]

Played one heck of a swell game today.

 

[Tryamkin]

Played one heck of a swell game today.

one heck of a swell player

 

[Henkka]

Really have liked this kid from team USA at this tournament.

Looks just a bit smallish.

 

[Reddawg]

Played one heck of a swell game today.

one heck of a swell player

You guys aren’t giving me the business are ya?

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

He's struggled to put up points recently. He only has 4 points in his last 9 games, but those four points have all come within the last two games. He now has 18 in 27 games. His pace has slowed down since the start of the season, but he's 4th on the team in points and first among defensemen.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

Analyzing the top 10 prospects for the NY Rangers: No. 6 Zac Jones

"He’s a very similar player to Adam Fox," Carvel said, referring to the Rangers' rookie defenseman who went straight from college to the NHL and posted 42 points in his first 70 games.

His coach compares him to Fox. They also talk about Makar. I think thats because Jones came into the program right as Makar left, but he's not that similar to Makar. Jones likes to compare himself to Krug, but I think he's going to defend better than Krug. He finished with 23 players in 32 games. One of the most underrated prospects in hockey. His hockey sense is very high, and thats going to carry him to being a top flight NHL'er, in my opinion.

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

Analyzing the top 10 prospects for the NY Rangers: No. 6 Zac Jones



His coach compares him to Fox. They also talk about Makar. I think thats because Jones came into the program right as Makar left, but he's not that similar to Makar. Jones likes to compare himself to Krug, but I think he's going to defend better than Krug. He finished with 23 players in 32 games. One of the most underrated prospects in hockey. His hockey sense is very high, and thats going to carry him to being a top flight NHL'er, in my opinion.

With the acquisition of Fox, drafting of Lundkvist and Jones, the Rangers are trying to get ahead of the curve. They seem to be preparing for tomorrow's NHL, instead of investing into today's NHL.

Jones, Lundkvist and Fox share a lot of similarities. They all are superb skaters, have great lateral movement, excel in the transition game and are stand outs when it comes to gap control. They aren't your rugged D-men who will pin an opponent to the boards, or push them off the puck. They play a much more finessed style of defense which, IMO, will be sought after in the near future. The Rangers already have the hard-hitting guys in Trouba and Lindgren, with some guys coming up through the ranks to add to that department. It's the 3 of Fox, Lundkvist and Jones that intrigue me the most

 

[tealhockey]

With the acquisition of Fox, drafting of Lundkvist and Jones, the Rangers are trying to get ahead of the curve. They seem to be preparing for tomorrow's NHL, instead of investing into today's NHL.

Jones, Lundkvist and Fox share a lot of similarities. They all are superb skaters, have great lateral movement, excel in the transition game and are stand outs when it comes to gap control. They aren't your rugged D-men who will pin an opponent to the boards, or push them off the puck. They play a much more finessed style of defense which, IMO, will be sought after in the near future. The Rangers already have the hard-hitting guys in Trouba and Lindgren, with some guys coming up through the ranks to add to that department. It's the 3 of Fox, Lundkvist and Jones that intrigue me the most

I think a d-corps with Trouba/Lindgren plus those other types is today's NHL. Not sure we know what tomorrow's NHL will look like but probably not that different

 

[PB37]

Traded the kid in my ehm sim league... wish i hadn't.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

Picking up where he left off last season.

 

[FlyguyOX]

I’m excited to see how he does this season

 

[FlyguyOX]

Nice short handed goal tonight against Spencer knight. Rangers prospect pool is stacked

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

That’s likely the worst goal Knight will give up all year, but more than the goal, the fact that Jones is playing PK this year is nice to see. 2G, 1A in three games.

His coach was quoted today in the Athletic as saying Jones will be ready to go pro once he can separate a forechecker from the puck. I think that’s mostly correct. From what I’ve seen, he’s really good in all zones, but needs to get stronger. I say it often, but the comparison is a left-handed Fox. I think Jones most likely plays three years of college hockey, so one more year past this one, but I wouldn’t rule out that he could sign after this season.