Why Zac Jones might thrive for NY Rangers with Mike Sullivan behind the bench

Zac Jones has been in the NHL for parts of five seasons and has logged just 115 games in that stretch. During the 2024-25 season he played a career high 46 games for the Rangers logging 17:15 per game, but he also endured a lengthy healthy scratch streak of 18 games which left him frustrated. Jones remains an RFA who the team could likely re-sign. Although there are already additional left handed defensemen on the depth chart, the hiring of Mike Sullivan could represent a turning point in Jones' career.

Jones turns 25 in October, and there's still time for him to get his NHL career back on track. He stands 5'10" and weighs 190 pounds, and the parts of his game where he thrives is skating and playmaking, When you consider that the Rangers brought in Carson Soucy (6'5" and 208 pounds) via trade last season, it was obvious they were looking for a little more size. But that was with Peter Laviolette behind the bench. Now Sullivan is in charge.

When thinking about the role Jones could play on a Sullivan coached team, it dawned on me that there was a defenseman on the Pittsburgh Penguins who shares a lot in common with Jones. The defenseman in question is Matt Grzelcyk, and he just finished a career year for Sullivan.

Grzelcyk stands 5'10", weighs 181 pounds, and was drafted 85th overall in the 3rd round of the 2012 draft. Jones is fundamentally the same size and was selected 68th overall in the 3rd round of the 2019 draft.

Grzelcyk appeared in 125 games in the NCAA, tallied 95 points, and averaged 0.76 points per game at Boston University. Jones spent less time in college, but tallied 47 points in 61 games averaging 0.77 points per game and turned pro after winning a National Championship with UMass.

Grzelcyk tallied 32 points in his first season in the AHL after turning pro, and Jones tallied 35 points. Grzelcyk would end up making the Boston Bruins the following season, although he did spend 14 more games in the AHL that year. Jones has had two additional AHL stints, and in that stretch tallied 32 points in 56 games.

Grzelcyk is up to 527 games as an NHL pro, and in his age 31 season he tallied 40 points in 82 games skating 20:37 a night. He only became an NHL regular at age 24, and over the years has carved a role for himself playing on each pair at different points in time.

Given what Sullivan just experienced in Pittsburgh, it seems obvious to give Jones an opportunity to play a role for the Rangers. Sullivan knows what a defenseman of Jones' build is capable of, and a clean slate could just be what Jones needs to break out. There's no reason why Jones can't be a third pair option, especially when you consider the players the Rangers have deployed there in recent seasons.

Jones is one of the lone defenders on the team that is a strong skater and capable of breaking out the puck with ease. He's also had limited success on the power play, something he was great at in Hartford. That's because has solid offensive instincts and looks for ways to get involved in the play.

This past season Jones finished with a 49.47 GF%, a 48.3 CF%, and a 47.16 xGF% in 700 minutes at 5v5. His ranks among the 11 defenders who skated for the team this season was 7th, 5th, and 4th, and that alone should earn him another chance. That's more important to focus on as opposed to just 11 points in 46 games.

Jones has the tools to be successful, and to this point has just wanted a defined role and consistent playing time. Given his low expected salary and cap hit, the Rangers having nothing to lose by giving him a chance. If he's unable to meet the moment, under yet another new coach, than Jones would have no one to blame but himself.