Ranking the top 10 prospects for the NY Rangers: No. 4 defenseman Zac Jones

With training camp for the 2021-22 NHL season set to begin in less than a month, it's time to update the USA TODAY Network's annual ranking of the top prospects in the New York Rangers' organization. In the coming weeks, we'll publish a series of reports on each of our top 10 overall players in the system, as well as in-depth positional analysis. These rankings are based on conversations with Rangers GM Chris Drury and director of player development Jed Ortmeyer, coaches and trainers who have worked with these prospects, scouts from around the world and other sources. Any players who are 25 or younger and have played fewer than 25 NHL games are eligible for consideration.

No. 4: Defenseman Zac Jones

Zac Jones had every intention of returning to the University of Massachusetts for his junior season.

That was the plan all along – even in the immediate aftermath of the first NCAA title in program history.

The thought of turning pro didn’t cross the young defenseman’s mind until roughly two hours later. While celebrating the April 10 national championship win, his agent, Shawn Hunwick, called with a message from the New York Rangers.

“That's when the Rangers talked to my agent and were like, ‘Hey, we want to sign him,’ ” Jones recalled. “I was completely full bore going back to UMass up until that time.”

The Blueshirts’ desire to bring him into the fold made the Virginia native reconsider his position.

If the team that drafted him believed he was ready, why shouldn’t he share that confidence?

“It caught all of us by surprise,” UMass coach Greg Carvel said. “After we won the championship, we took a step back and realized, ‘I guess he is ready to go.’ I think everybody involved – his parents, Zac, myself, advisors – we all thought he was going to need a third year. But he was spectacular in the Frozen Four and in his growth during his sophomore year, in every way.”

After a standout freshman season, Jones elevated his play to another level in 2020-21.

The 20-year-old posted 24 points (nine goals and 15 assists) in 29 games to earn second-team All-American honors, but it was his postseason performance that turned the most heads. He registered six points (three goals and three assists) in seven games on the run to the title and played with a level of aggression in all three zones that drew rave reviews.

“He was the best player in the Frozen Four,” Carvel said. “He was an elite offensive player doing things that not many other players from the back end could do.”

The offensive side of the game has always come naturally for lefty-shooting Jones.

In fact, he was forward up until his teenage years — and he's carried those skills with him as a defenseman.

"His coolness and his patience with the puck is really, really exceptional," Carvel said. "He's very comfortable stick-handling when he's the last guy back and making things happen. He's very comfortable making things happen from the blue line and jumping around players, which is a skill not many defensemen have."

The comparison Carvel makes will be music to Rangers' fans ears.

"I've been comparing him to Adam Fox forever – probably before Fox was even part of the Rangers organization," he said. "I just saw them as very similar players. They're not big bodies, but have exceptional vision and sense and patience with the puck."

Getting the chance to spend time around Fox has been an eye-opening experience for Jones, who called the reigning Norris Trophy winner "a role model."

"His brain is the best in the NHL," he said. "Everything he's doing on the ice, I'm trying to pick up and implement in my game."

Like Fox, the 5-foot-11 Jones begins his pro career facing questions about his size and ability to defend.

He's bulked up to 185 pounds after being drafted at 172 as a third-round pick in 2019, but how well he'll hold up to the physicality of the NHL remains his No. 1 question mark.

"Division I hockey is a good, solid breeding ground for these kids,' Carvel said. "But when they get to the NHL, you're taking on older, stronger players. That's where he’s going to struggle until he gets stronger."

Carvel was quick to note that Jones "is more competitive than people give him credit for," while most scouts believe his defense has improved significantly in a short period of time.

"His defensive game really took the next step last year at UMass," Rangers director of player development Jed Ortmeyer said. "He worked really hard on it, watching video and asking questions and just wanting to learn."

Jones got a taste of what it will take to be a defenseman at the NHL level during a 10-game cameo at the end of last season.

The offensive skills were on display, with Jones registering four assists in those contests. But Carvel watched from afar and could tell there was some hesitation in the D zone.

"I felt like he was (thinking), ‘Alright, just stay on the right side of my guy. Don't lose him, don't get trouble,’ " he said. "As opposed to, ‘I’ve got to be aggressive here and find a way to separate my man from the puck.’ "

The UMass coach believes his former pupil will find the confidence to assert himself, just as he did after adjusting to the college game.

Doing it at the highest level is a much bigger ask — but if he can prove he's up to the task, many believe the Rangers will have another dynamic player on their back line.

"I’m just coming in and I'm trying to work as hard as I can to prove to the management and the (coaching) staff that I deserve to be here – I deserve to be in the NHL," he said. "And if I get sent down to the AHL, it's not going to be a big deal to me. I'm just going to work as hard as I can down there to try to get myself back up to the NHL."

ICYMI: Top 10 prospects for the NY Rangers

No. 10: Forward Brett Berard

No. 9: Forward Will Cuylle

No. 8: Forward Karl Henriksson

No. 7: Forward Morgan Barron

No. 6: Defenseman Matthew Robertson

No. 5: Forward Brennan Othmann

No. 4:Defenseman Zac Jones

No. 3: Check back on Tuesday...

Vincent Z. Mercogliano is the New York Rangers beat reporter for the USA TODAY Network. Read more of his work at lohud.com/sports/rangers/ and follow him on Twitter @vzmercogliano.