NY Rangers training camp takeaways: Zac Jones holding out hope for an NHL spot

SOUTH KINGSTOWN, R.I. - The New York Rangers have cut their roster down to 26 players, which leaves three remaining cuts to go.

The latest move came Monday, with forward Greg McKegg clearing waivers and being assigned to AHL Hartford. That leaves 15 forwards in training camp, with just one more cut presumably coming. But there are nine defensemen left, which means the Rangers will most likely have to trim that group by two.

Zac Jones understands the numbers game, but the 20-year-old prospect isn't conceding anything yet.

"I still have confidence in myself," he said following Monday's practice at Boss Arena on the campus of the University of Rhode Island. "I'm going to make it as hard as I can on the coaching staff to send me down. That's why I feel like I'm here right now. I feel like I’ve played well enough to deserve to be here and I'm going keep playing the way I can play."

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Despite the perception that fellow rookie Nils Lundkvist is the leading man in the competition for a spot in the opening night lineup, coach Gerard Gallant has cautioned against making any assumptions.

According to Gallant, the top-five defensemen are set — Adam Fox, Ryan Lindgren, Jacob Trouba, K'Andre Miller and Patrik Nemeth. But the sixth and seventh spots are still to be determined.

The No. 6 defenseman is the most intriguing because that player will be on the ice most nights. With Braden Schneider and Matthew Robertson being sent to the AHL on Sunday, it's down to Jones, Lundkvist, Libor Hájek or Jarred Tinordi.

In reality, it's between the two rookies. It wouldn't benefit either to be a healthy scratch as the No. 7 D-man, which is why one will be heading to Hartford sometime in the next week.

"I’d take it with a grain of salt," Jones said when asked how he'd respond to an AHL assignment. "I think I deserve to play in the NHL, but if I get sent down, I'm not going to complain about it. I'm not going to be mad. I'm going to go down there and work as hard as I can to try get myself back up to the NHL."

Lundkvist bolstered his case in Saturday's 4-3 overtime win against the Boston Bruins with two assists, giving him a team-high three this preseason. Jones has one helper so far, but he's also played in one fewer game.

"They're close," Gallant said of the competition. "It's going to be a tough (decision), and even whoever doesn't make it is still going to be a big part of our future. There's no doubt about that."

The expectation is that Jones will get another chance to move the needle in his direction when the Rangers host the New Jersey Devils for their fifth preseason game Wednesday at 7 p.m.

He's guarding against the impulse to try and do too much.

"When I don't play well is when I try to do things that I'm not good at – when I try to get physical (and) when I try to be a mean person out there," he said. "But when I just play my game and do that, I feel like I'm pretty solid."

Whether he can do enough to surpass Lundkvist feels like somewhat of a long shot, but the fact that he's still with the NHL club speaks to his ascension in the prospect pecking order.

"It's not up to me at this point," Jones said. "I'm not trying to predict the future or anything like that. I'm just trying to come in and work as hard as I can and make a great impression on the coaching staff and the management. Whatever happens after that, happens."

Patrik Nemeth provides 'steady' presence for rookies

Whoever wins the bottom-pair competition has a partner already in place.

Nemeth was signed to a three-year, $7.5 million contract this summer to play the role of reliable defensive presence next to either of the offensive-minded rookies. He said the infusion of youth and potential upside is what made New York an appealing option in free agency.

"They have a good core of young players," the 29-year-old said. "A lot of good pieces. I think the pieces they brought in made the roles a little bit more specific, so it's exciting."

The Rangers believe the 6-foot-3, 228-pounder will be an ideal complement for a skilled, undersized player such as Lundkvist or Jones.

He described himself as "a shutdown guy" who makes "good, simple puck plays" and has experience playing on both the left and right sides. He also believes he can provide protection on the back end for a mobile partner who wants to take chances offensively.

"I like guys that are jumping up in the rush," he said. "I like going after first touches in the D zone, so guys like Nils can jump into the play and bring his skating ability and his hockey IQ up the ice."

It probably didn't hurt that Nemeth, like Lundkvist, is Swedish.

That homeland connection has drawn them to each other, with Lundkvist remarking that Nemeth has already taken him under his wing.

"Swedes must be good guys," Nemeth joked. "I’m trying to be nice to him."

The veteran has been impressed with the rookie's game — "He's got a lot of tools to him," he said — and Gallant has been pleased with what the Rangers have in Nemeth.

"(He's) very steady, strong," he said. "Everything we thought from when we watched him play in Colorado with the way he plays the game."

PP1 remains right-leaning for now

The Rangers will practice at Boss Arena again Tuesday as they continue their team bonding trip in the New England.

They spent Sunday golfing and skeet shooting, with Ryan Strome and Alexis Lafrenière said to be among the top golfers.

Monday was more of a normal day, with 25 players participating in practice. The only one missing was Vitali Kravtsov, who stayed behind in New York due to a lower-body injury. Gallant said he remains day-to-day, but did not provide further details.

One of the focuses on Monday was the power play, which looked very familiar. The top unit was unchanged from the David Quinn era, with four right-handed shooters — Artemi Panarin, Mika Zibanejad, Ryan Strome and point-man Adam Fox — and Chris Kreider as the lone lefty.

The second unit consisted of four lefties — Kaapo Kakko, Alexis Lafrenière, Filip Chytil and Sammy Blais — while Lundkvist and Jacob Trouba rotated as the PP quarterback.

There was some belief that Gallant would push Kakko or Lafrenière up to Strome's place on the top unit to achieve more balance. And while he hasn't ruled out the possibility, he sounds inclined to stick with same PP1 group for now.

"This is the first time we really did it and they were all together, obviously that could be a unit," he said. "There’s a good chance it will be, but I’m not going to say that for sure yet. We’re going to look at different options."

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.