Player Discussion Zac Jones

[QJL]

Is that the level we want our players to be at? I may have played really badly but my teammate played worse? I like Zac and I want to give Zac another chance but this teams weak sauce players are disappointing. Might as well wear some dresses.

No, it’s not the level.

It’s just that you said the board was in favor of him being scratched… who was the preferred alternative?

 

[NickyFotiu]

No, it’s not the level.

It’s just that you said the board was in favor of him being scratched… who was the preferred alternative?

I cant speak for everyone but go look at the time he was scratched. Im sure you will see multiple people agreeing with the move. Even Brooks said he had played badly. I want Zac to play but I want him to do his talking on the ice by playing better.

 

[gabevh3]

At this point the coach can't scratch a player without the guy bitching to the media.

He's clearly lost the room and it's insane he's still in charge.

Lifelong contract for Everyone i guess lol

 

[noncents]

Is that the level we want our players to be at? I may have played really badly but my teammate played worse? I like Zac and I want to give Zac another chance but this teams weak sauce players are disappointing. Might as well wear some dresses.

what kind of obscene obtuse nonsense is this??

ice time is Zero sum. play your best players. Jones > Lindgren. nobody agrees with scratching ZJ when Lindgren is getting 1st pairing minutes

 

[n8]

Is that the level we want our players to be at? I may have played really badly but my teammate played worse? I like Zac and I want to give Zac another chance but this teams weak sauce players are disappointing. Might as well wear some dresses.

I think that's posters. Not Zac. I blame the click bait media who posts outrageous headlines like "Zac Jones FURIOUS about ice time." Which is hyper superlative. Every player in existence says they aren't happy about not getting ice time but they need to keep stay focus and continue working hard.

 

[NickyFotiu]

I think that's posters. Not Zac. I blame the click bait media who posts outrageous headlines like "Zac Jones FURIOUS about ice time." Which is hyper superlative. Every player in existence says they aren't happy about not getting ice time but they need to keep stay focus and continue working hard.

I agree. The media is asking loaded questions but Zac should just say he really wants to play. That he knows he can play better. Don't make headlines.

 

[DelZottoHitTheNetJK]

Jones had a million chances this year to be noticeable and he was complete buns. He can't defend which is acceptable if you generate offense and are a human breakout. He can't do either of those things with consistency. Just move him.

 

[n8]

Jones had a million chances this year to be noticeable and he was complete buns. He can't defend which is acceptable if you generate offense and are a human breakout. He can't do either of those things with consistency. Just move him.

Are you just looking at his stat line? I mean I mostly agree with your points but it's not all bad or a lost cause. Plus, the team in general is just terrible. He isn't even a full-time defender on this team yet. Here's what I see he's good and bad at:
Acceptable - Good:

• Skating
• Mobility
• Breakout/transition
• He moves with the puck quite well.
• Offensively, he's still #2 on this team after Fox (Corsi/Fenwick @ 50/50)
• Stickhandling
• Positioning
• Hustle - he could be better here but I don't see him coasting like I see other players do. In the motor category he could use more fight.

Needs improvement:

• Passing. He's decent but it's inconsistent. There are a handful of passes that don't reach the target cleanly. It's hard to determine how much of this is the receiver and given this season, a lot has to be the receiver but I don't have time to go through each game and check every pass so call it an eyeball test. This one could be in acceptable but opted for this category.
• He is not a shooter. He needs to shoot more. His mobility is similar to Fox but Fox uses it to get into dangerous spots to make his shots. Jones does not.
• Shooting accuracy is similarly not great. He is capable but most of his shot selection is pretty safe. Shots that get gobbled up by goalies instead of rebound generating shots. Something he can work on.
• You say he can't defend, I think that statement needs more clarity. It's too broad. He needs to be better on the boards and winning puck battles. Gets boxed out a bit too easily. His positioning is generally good. And I don't see him making bone headed clearing attempts like Miller.
• Mentioned above. More fight. More sandpaper and aggression to make himself harder to play against.
• Hits even less than Adam Fox.
• Barely blocks any shots.

N/A:

• Has gotten zero PK time this year

 

[DelZottoHitTheNetJK]

Are you just looking at his stat line? I mean I mostly agree with your points but it's not all bad or a lost cause. Plus, the team in general is just terrible. He isn't even a full-time defender on this team yet. Here's what I see he's good and bad at:
Acceptable - Good:

• Skating
• Mobility
• Breakout/transition
• He moves with the puck quite well.
• Offensively, he's still #2 on this team after Fox (Corsi/Fenwick @ 50/50)
• Stickhandling
• Positioning
• Hustle - he could be better here but I don't see him coasting like I see other players do. In the motor category he could use more fight.

Needs improvement:

• Passing. He's decent but it's inconsistent. There are a handful of passes that don't reach the target cleanly. It's hard to determine how much of this is the receiver and given this season, a lot has to be the receiver but I don't have time to go through each game and check every pass so call it an eyeball test. This one could be in acceptable but opted for this category.
• He is not a shooter. He needs to shoot more. His mobility is similar to Fox but Fox uses it to get into dangerous spots to make his shots. Jones does not.
• Shooting accuracy is similarly not great. He is capable but most of his shot selection is pretty safe. Shots that get gobbled up by goalies instead of rebound generating shots. Something he can work on.
• You say he can't defend, I think that statement needs more clarity. It's too broad. He needs to be better on the boards and winning puck battles. Gets boxed out a bit too easily. His positioning is generally good. And I don't see him making bone headed clearing attempts like Miller.
• Mentioned above. More fight. More sandpaper and aggression to make himself harder to play against.
• Hits even less than Adam Fox.
• Barely blocks any shots.

N/A:

• Has gotten zero PK time this year

I haven't looked at a single one of his stats, the eye test has not been good.

He's regressed noticeably from last season. Probably because he has been used this year in a larger role, and has proven he can't be relied upon in the defensive zone and doesn't impact the game offensively enough to overcome that.

Many an undersized defenseman have carved out a solid NHL career playing the exact level of defense that Zac Jones has played. The thing is, all those guys had massive shots from the blueline and could be a staple on PP1. Jones lacks the big shot he would need for him to be an NHL regular.

Tyson Barrie
MA Bergeron
Deangelo to some extent, he would still be in the league if he wasn't a grade A asshole


Jones is also redundant with Fox on the team. You can never, EVER, have more than 1 undersized, offensive dman on your team. It literally never works out. Fox is blocking Jones, and that situation will obviously never change for Jones no matter how well he plays.

This is why I'm saying, similar to Kakko, it's best for the team and the player to move on.

 

[NYRFANMANI]

Jones is also redundant with Fox on the team. You can never, EVER, have more than 1 undersized, offensive dman on your team. It literally never works out. Fox is blocking Jones, and that situation will obviously never change for Jones no matter how well he plays.

It may be a dated point of view, but that's exactly my sentiment too.