Prospect Info: Zachary Jones, LD, 3rd round, 68th overall, 2019

[kovazub94]

Maybe he can be the Rangers' Fireman Ed or License Plate Guy! But he lives in Europe, I guess Dancing Larry is that guy.

Had a beer with Dancing Larry at the Rangers draft party. Can’t believe this guy didn’t get comp’ed for drinks at MSG event.

 

[Rempe73]

The more I watch and research this guy, the more I think he can become a Pionk-type player who is better defensively. They both have hands, are able to carry the puck, can skate very well, are smart, play bigger than their size, and both dump the puck into the o-zone too often (as opposed to controlled entries). I think Jones is a better passer, while Pionk has a better shot. Someone correct me if I’m wrong, but that’s how I see it. An intriguing player.

 

[Irishguy42]

Pionk played bigger than his size? Dude was physically outmatched and abused any time he stepped onto the ice.

 

[GoAwayPanarin]

The more I watch and research this guy, the more I think he can become a Pionk-type player who is better defensively. They both have hands, are able to carry the puck, can skate very well, are smart, play bigger than their size, and both dump the puck into the o-zone too often (as opposed to controlled entries). I think Jones is a better passer, while Pionk has a better shot. Someone correct me if I’m wrong, but that’s how I see it. An intriguing player.

Jones skates way better than Pionk.

Pionks escapability was ass. Jones has this in spades.

 

[Pizza]

Not that it matters any longer cause he's gone, and not that I'm any kind of an expert, but I saw several instances of why the Rangers signed Pionk.

Over the years our fan base has done one of two things abundantly either overrated or underrated our prospects. It's always kind of a mixed bag but it's interesting that it's mostly one or the other.

I know two things about Pionk:

I saw him make some pretty cool plays that showed some ability.

He helped us get Jacob Trouba.

There is an argument of degree and detail on both that could be had I guess, but I know what I saw and Trouba's a Ranger now.

Just my 2 cents.

 

[SnowblindNYR]

I was literally thinking the same thing. I actually feel he's more like the Islanders guy who used to wear the gold hair to the games (I'm not sure if he still goes). He sat in the same seat every year, right next to the glass. But he was much more non-de script than Ed or Larry.

I hope Larry isn't on here. But I really can't stand him and I really wish the Rangers would move away from his antics.

I really think Steven might be the biggest fan.

Considering I hung out with Steven and Larry seems a bit like a douche, I'd take Steven every day.

 

[Lays]

The more I watch and research this guy, the more I think he can become a Pionk-type player who is better defensively. They both have hands, are able to carry the puck, can skate very well, are smart, play bigger than their size, and both dump the puck into the o-zone too often (as opposed to controlled entries). I think Jones is a better passer, while Pionk has a better shot. Someone correct me if I’m wrong, but that’s how I see it. An intriguing player.

Not similar at all aside from the fact that they’re both offensive oriented

 

[Barnaby]

Jones is the type of D that I always felt we never draft. Though now with ADA and Fox we might need a D-man like that less. But we'd never draft high upside offensive D-man before.

Sanguinetti, Del Zotto, Novak... we drafted them ... just not well.

 

[Barnaby]

Like this pick a lot... def risk, but high reward. He’s going to a good program and has a lot to work with.

 

[eco's bones]

Steven mentioned how giddy the draftees he saw were after the Rangers took them and after watching the MSG video clip Jones might have been the giddiest. U Mass Amherst has become a very good program and especially for turning out defensemen.

That said an 18 year old Jones isn't anywhere near where a 24 year old Pionk was last year. Pionk might have a bit more developing to do as it is--you would hope so for his sake but if not he's kind of in a place where Michael Del Zotto was in his last year with the Rangers. Right now Pionk is a bottom pairing defenseman getting shellacked by fans for being used like he was a first pairing shutdown all purpose D and if and when Jones makes it to the NHL one would hope he gets eased into the league on a bottom pairing because that helps while the other way almost always hurts. There are a handful of smallish puck moving D who are able to come right in and make an impact--like Heiskanen, Makar but you have to be a special special player and Pionk wasn't.

 

[SnowblindNYR]

Sanguinetti, Del Zotto, Novak... we drafted them ... just not well.

I don't even remember Novak. But you're right on the other 2. Although, I guess Del Zotto wasn't all bad.

 

[Barnaby]

I don't even remember Novak. But you're right on the other 2. Although, I guess Del Zotto wasn't all bad.

He’s been an NHL player at least... he was just a guy who got under my skin. It was probably the disappointment that he never built off of his first season except for a brief run with Staal... and he just always came across as dopey to me.

 

[SnowblindNYR]

He’s been an NHL player at least... he was just a guy who got under my skin. It was probably the disappointment that he never built off of his first season except for a brief run with Staal... and he just always came across as dopey to me.

Yeah, but I feel like unfortunately the NHL draft is shallow enough where his type of career is very solid for a late first rounder.

 

[Rempe73]

Pionk played bigger than his size? Dude was physically outmatched and abused any time he stepped onto the ice.

Yes he was, but I mean in terms of aggressiveness

 

[nyr2k2]

Yes he was, but I mean in terms of aggressiveness

Yeah, I know what you mean. He played like he thought he was bigger than he was. LOL. He tried to be tough and aggressive, he just couldn't do it well.

 

[Edge]

Jones has a little bit of Cam York in him stylistically.

York obviously has more of the pieces in the right place, but there's a good amount of overlap there.

 

[bobbop]

Zach is certainly making a very good early impression at UMass.

2-5-7 in four games.

 

[UnSandvich]

Hockey East Rookie of the Week too

 

[Leetch3]

hopefully he keeps it up long enough to get interest from team usa for the WJC

 

[nyr2k2]

hopefully he keeps it up long enough to get interest from team usa for the WJC

He was in the WJSS, so he's definitely on the radar.

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

He was in the WJSS, so he's definitely on the radar.

While this is true, it's a bit misleading since the US has 2 full squads in the WJSS. He is definitely on the radar but I don't think it's likely he makes the team unless he absolutely tears it up in college the next 2 months

 

[GoAwayPanarin]

Politics will likely get in the way of him making it even if he tears it up.

based on ability? There is no reason for a scrub like Mattias Samuelsson to make it over him.

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

Politics will likely get in the way of him making it even if he tears it up.

based on ability? There is no reason for a scrub like Mattias Samuelsson to make it over him.

Are you saying Zac Jones has to "earn it"?

 

[Hunter Gathers]

While this is true, it's a bit misleading since the US has 2 full squads in the WJSS. He is definitely on the radar but I don't think it's likely he makes the team unless he absolutely tears it up in college the next 2 months

It's not at all misleading, AK. The US really values guys that it throws on the WJSS. It's correct to say that Jones may be a slight long-shot, but the US brass really likes him.

 

[GeorgeKaplan]

Based on his WJSS and play so far, I think Jones has a pretty good chance to be the 6/7 guy for the WJC