Zac Jones’s absence from the lineup during the New York Rangers’ 4-1 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs wasn’t due to any shortcomings in his performance across the first four games. When he returns, Rangers coach Peter Laviolette advised him to “keep doing your thing.”
According to Laviolette, his discussions with Jones focused on maintaining his hard work and readiness for his next opportunity. Jones was a healthy scratch against the Maple Leafs to allow veteran Chad Ruhwedel to play his season debut, which resulted in a strong performance alongside rookie Victor Mancini, as he tied for the team lead in blocked shots and ended with a plus-two rating.
“It was about giving ‘Rudy’ a chance to play, too,” Laviolette explained. “He’s been eager and diligent during practice. While I was comfortable with the previous lineup, we made some choices that will need to be considered moving forward.”
For the upcoming game against the Montreal Canadiens, both Jones and Ruhwedel will be healthy scratches as Ryan Lindgren returns from an upper-body injury after missing five games due to a preseason altercation. Lindgren will play on the third pair with Mancini.
This situation presents a decision for the Rangers, as carrying two extra defensemen isn’t practical; one of them will have to be removed from the roster, likely before their home game against the Florida Panthers. Ruhwedel, a seasoned player with a Stanley Cup ring, is well-suited for the extra defenseman role, while Mancini may be at risk of being sent down since he’s the only defenseman not required to clear waivers.
Thus, Tuesday’s game may serve as Mancini’s last chance to prove himself. With Lindgren back, Jones is likely to reclaim a place on the third pair, having been a mainstay in training camp. While Mancini performed well, he made the roster due to Lindgren’s injury.
Jones has one assist and a plus-four rating, averaging 15:45 of ice time in four games so far this season. He impressed Laviolette in the previous season by stepping up in 31 games amidst injuries to key players, earning his place when Erik Gustafsson left for Detroit.
Therefore, Jones’s consecutive healthy scratches shouldn’t be viewed as punitive. Laviolette acknowledged that difficult decisions lie ahead: “I’m comfortable playing anyone, but we have choices to make.”
