For Zac Jones, the path to a full-time spot in the Rangers’ lineup has never been clearer.
The Rangers announced Friday they have signed the 22-year-old defenseman to a one-way, two-year deal, worth $800,000 in the first season and $825,000 in the second.
Signing Jones, who was a restricted free agent, for two years instead of one ensures both parties will avoid arbitration next summer.
A one-year contract would have brought Jones’ qualifying offer next season to nearly $1 million, which is a scary number when counting pennies, as the Rangers will be for the foreseeable future.
Under a tormenting cap crunch, the Rangers need Jones to seize a role in their top six now more than ever.
It is believed that the Rangers think Jones has outgrown the American Hockey League, which means the offense-minded blueliner should be given every opportunity to establish himself as a full-time NHL player next season.
As the roster currently stands, Jones will be competing with Ben Harpur for the sixth defenseman role come training camp.
Because he signed his entry-level contract at age 20, Jones would’ve been waiver eligible this season no matter if his new deal were one-way or two-way.
So if it doesn’t work out with the Rangers, he’ll have to pass through waivers — and potentially be claimed by another team — to be assigned to the team’s AHL affiliate, the Hartford Wolf Pack.
Jones, whom the Rangers selected 68th overall in 2019, has spent a majority of the last two campaigns in Hartford.
In addition to combining for 17 goals and 49 assists in 106 regular-season AHL games, Jones chipped in two goals and four assists in nine playoff contests this year.
The University of Massachusetts product has gotten most of his NHL opportunities in the wake of injuries.
This past season, however, Jones was jerked in and out of the Rangers’ lineup after he made the team out of training camp.
Former head coach Gerard Gallant preferred bigger bodies on the back end, which led to the Rangers signing Harpur and acquiring Niko Mikkola.
Jones only lasted on the Rangers’ roster until the beginning of December, when he was assigned back to the AHL.
Jones has maintained an exceptional attitude as he has worked his way up through the organization.
As a left-handed defenseman, Jones was far down the depth chart when he first signed with the Rangers in April 2021 and for the next two seasons.
He was behind the likes of Ryan Lindgren, K’Andre Miller (restricted free agent), Libor Hajek (RFA with arbitration rights), Jarred Tinordi (now with the Blackhawks), Jack Johnson (last with Chicago), Brendan Smith (now with the Devils) and Patrik Nemeth (now with the Coyotes).
The 5-foot-10, 178-pound Jones is a nifty puck-moving defenseman who can quarterback the power play and help the Rangers on breakouts.
There is bound to be a continuation of Jones’ adjustment period.
His occasional rookie mistakes made it difficult for Gallant to keep him in the lineup amid the Rangers’ underwhelming start to the 2022-23 season.
With an extended look in the lineup, Jones should have a better chance of figuring out how to minimize his defensive lapses and, in turn, gain the necessary confidence to reach his full potential.
It’ll be interesting to see how new head coach Peter Laviolette deploys Jones, who has just one goal and seven assists in 38 games on his NHL resume.
The fact that this deal was completed just three days after the coaching hire says that Jones is a key part of the Rangers’ vision for the 2023-24 season.
It’s up to Jones to make it a reality.