REPORT: Rangers defenseman furious about lack of playing time: ‘It (bleeping) sucks’ I need to be traded out”
Zac Jones, a defenseman for the New York Rangers, finds himself grappling with a familiar and frustrating situation as his playing time has once again been reduced. During the team’s first practice of 2025 on Wednesday, Jones was slotted as the No. 7 defenseman—a role that typically leaves him out of the lineup, as only six defensemen are dressed for games.
This isn’t the first time Jones has been relegated to the role of a spare. Last season, he served as the extra defenseman, though he managed to appear in a career-high 31 games, contributing nine points (two goals and seven assists). Despite his efforts, the 23-year-old is once again on the outside looking in, and he hasn’t hidden his frustration.
“It’s tough. It’s really [expletive] tough,” Jones admitted to reporters. “I’m generally a pretty easygoing, happy person, and no matter what’s going on in my life, I try to come to the rink with a smile on my face. But it [expletive] sucks. There’s nothing else I can say about it.”
Rangers coach Peter Laviolette acknowledged Jones’ disappointment but explained that recent roster changes have necessitated difficult decisions.
“You’re frustrated and wanting to play. I would expect anybody out of the lineup would want to be in there,” Laviolette said. “The roster has changed on the back end. Different players bring different things. That’s the decision we’re at right now. It’s OK to be frustrated—everybody wants to play. We’ll just go day by day. We can only play six [defensemen] tomorrow, and we’ll pick those six and go from there.”
For now, Jones will have to wait for another opportunity to prove himself and earn a spot back in the Rangers’ lineup.
Zac Jones on outside of Rangers’ defense rotation
Expectations were high for Zac Jones coming into this season, with many anticipating a more prominent role for the 24-year-old defenseman. Jones has recorded eight points (one goal, seven assists) and holds a plus-2 rating in 26 games, including playing in 20 of the Rangers’ last 21 contests. However, his situation has changed dramatically in recent weeks, as he has been a healthy scratch in four of the last five games, including both matchups during the team’s post-Christmas road trip through Florida.
Jones was initially expected to step up following the offseason departure of Erik Gustafsson in free agency. Instead, his playing time diminished earlier in the season as rookie Victor Mancini earned opportunities, and more recently, Jones lost his spot to two new additions—Urho Vaakanainen, acquired from the Anaheim Ducks in the Jacob Trouba trade, and Will Borgen, who arrived in a deal that sent forward Kaapo Kakko to the Seattle Kraken.
The Rangers’ defensive depth has only increased with the return of K’Andre Miller from injury, joining an already solid group featuring Adam Fox, Ryan Lindgren, and Braden Schneider. As a result, Jones finds himself pushed further down the depth chart and now faces an uncertain future with the team.
Addressing the possibility of a trade, Jones indicated he would consult with his agent and family before deciding whether to approach Rangers management about seeking a change of scenery.
“I’m just gonna have to talk to my agent, talk to my family, and . . . yeah, probably at some point have a conversation with [general manager Chris] Drury or [coach Peter] Laviolette and go from there,” Jones said. “I don’t have a crystal ball to tell you exactly what I’m gonna do, but we’ll see what happens.”
With no injuries reported among the Rangers’ top six defensemen, Jones appears likely to be watching from the press box again when the team kicks off 2025 against the Boston Bruins at Madison Square Garden on Thursday night.