For a few years, the New York Rangers struggled to find a reliable third defense pair. Last season, young footballer Braden Schneider played well for them on the right flank, and Niko Mikkola, who was acquired by the team at the trade deadline, gave them stability and solid defensive play. However, he’s left in free agency and the team could have a battle brewing between Zac Jones and Erik Gustafsson for a spot on the left side of their third defensive pair.
Zack Jones
The Rangers drafted Jones in the third round of the 2019 NHL Draft. The 5-foot-10 prospect is a fast skater and smart playmaker. He spent the 2019-20 season playing college hockey at U-Mass Amherst and finished with three goals and 20 assists in 32 games. He played one better in the 2020-21 season and finished with nine goals and 15 assists in 29 games while helping his team win. Their first NCAA title.
Jones made his NHL debut immediately after winning the championship and provided four assists in 10 games for the Rangers in 2020-21. He spent most of the 2021-22 season with the Hartford Wolf Pack of the American Hockey League (AHL) where he finished the season with nine goals and 26 assists in 52 games. He earned a call-up to the NHL but struggled defensively, producing only 2 points in 12 games.
Last season, Jones got a chance with the Rangers early in the season, but even though he played a little better defensively, he didn’t play to his potential. he scored His first goal in the National Hockey League But he only had 2 points in 16 games, and again spent most of the season in the AHL. Instead of fiddling about being demoted as some of the team’s top prospects have in recent years, he played very well for the Wolf Pack, finishing with eight goals and 23 assists in 54 games. He also recorded two goals and four assists in nine playoff games.
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Jones is still only 22 years old and definitely has an offensive upside. If he is able to defend himself, there is a good chance he will earn a place in the third defense pair. He can also give the Rangers a boost on their second power play unit. The second unit with Jacob Trueba struggled last season and Jones’ playmaking ability could help create more goalscoring opportunities for young strikers such as Philippe Chitel, Capu Kaku and Alexis Lafreniere.
Eric Gustafson
The Rangers signed Gustafsson to a one-year, $825,000 deal. The 31-year-old is having one of his best seasons as he finished with seven goals and 35 assists in 70 matches for the Washington Capitals and Toronto Maple Leafs. He had 21 points on the power play and is another candidate to lead the Rangers’ second unit.
Gustafsson had a breakout season in 2018-19, finishing with 17 goals and 43 assists in 79 games for the Chicago Blackhawks. However, his high-risk playing style reduced playing time for him over the next few seasons, and he did not produce as much offense. However, he did get some playoff experience and played 16 post-season games for the Montreal Canadiens during their journey to Stanley Cup Final in 2021. He finished the postseason with 1 goal and 2 assists while averaging 10 minutes of ice time per game.
Although Gustafsson is not great defensively, he can definitely make a difference offensively. He is a very good playmaker and also has a good shot. He takes a lot of risks, but if he acts the way he did last season, his contract will be a bargain for Rangers.
To advance the Rangers
Since the Rangers lost Mikkola this offseason, they have an opening on the left side of their third pair of defense. Defensive-minded veteran Ben Harbor is another option for the team, although he has far less ascendancy than either Jones or Gustafsson.
Jones and Gustafsson both have the ability to produce big numbers offensively in the third pair of defense. Perhaps the competition will bring out the best in them both as they both look to earn a place in the Rangers’ opening night squad.