ROCHESTER – Americans defenseman Zac Jones has already registered 19 assists this season despite earning two recalls to Buffalo and some of his most talented teammates being summoned to the Sabres for extended periods.
So, what if Jones, 25, stays put in Rochester? Of course, given his offensive exploits – he ranks second in the AHL in assists and first with 15 power-play helpers – and the rugged nature of the defense position, that’s unlikely. The Sabres will likely need help again.
But what if he plays a full season for the Amerks or comes close? What if the Sabres get healthy up front and slick prospects Noah Ostlund and Isak Rosen, both of whom have recently yo-yoed between Buffalo and Rochester, stick with the Amerks?
Jones, perhaps the AHL’s best power-play quarterback, could record 50 assists, a gaudy total an Amerks defenseman hasn’t reached since Terry Hollinger in 1996-97.
“There’s no question he can get 50 assists,” said Amerks assistant coach Nathan Paetsch, a former defenseman who registered 50 points – 11 goals and 39 assists – for Rochester in 2005-06.
Heck, the 5-foot-11, 190-pound Jones, who has scored one goal in 20 games with the Amerks, thinks 60 assists might be attainable.
“Yeah, 100 percent,” Jones told the Times Herald following Tuesday’s practice in Blue Cross Arena. “I think the biggest thing is just being consistent with it.”
Jones, who signed a two-way contract as a free agent this year after beginning his career with the New York Rangers, has been consistent all season. While he has gone pointless in the last two games, it marks the only time he has gone more than one outing without recording a point.
At his current pace entering Wednesday’s road game against the Belleville Senators, Jones would compile 65 assists over a full season. The AHL plays a 72-game schedule, and he missed four contests on recall to Buffalo, where he did not play.
Bob Hess holds the Amerks’ single-season mark for points by a defenseman with 58 in 1980-81. No Amerks player has cracked the 60-assist mark since Domenic Pittis recorded 68 in 1998-99.
It takes a special package of talents to be a high-end puck distributor and power-play quarterback.
Amerks coach Mike Leone said Jones possesses poise carrying the puck, strong ability to move it and “extremely high hockey sense.”
“He always knows where everyone is, his head is up,” Leone said. “He’s just a really dynamic player in our league, and I’d be hard pressed to find a better power-play quarterback than him. …
“He’s had an incredible start, and he’s been a huge kind of X-factor for our power play.”
Paetsch said at even strength or on the power play, Jones has an “ability to almost manipulate defenders.” When they buy it, he creates time and space.
“And his composure with the puck is elite,” he said.
As the four players around him have changed throughout the first two months, Jones has remained the constant running the point on the top unit.
Entering Tuesday’s schedule, having converted 25.5 percent of its chances, the Amerks’ power play ranked first in the AHL.
“I think it could be a really scary power play if there ever were a time when have our full five,” Leone said. “But he’s done an incredible job of just being the anchor on that first-unit power play, no matter what forwards go on it.”
Naturally, Jones said he picked up a few things watching Rangers defenseman Adam Fox up close for parts of five seasons, including patience and poise.
This year, opportunity has buoyed Jones. He spent most of the last few years moving between the Rangers and the Hartford Wolf Pack, their AHL affiliate. In New York, he often sat out as a healthy scratch, never surpassing the 46-game mark.
“It’s getting to play hockey again, really,” he said of his hot start. “The last couple years I’ve kind of been in and out of the lineup for most of the year, so it’s just get some consistent time.”
That regular action has helped him develop a rhythm.
“It definitely impacts your play,” he said. “You’re definitely not playing as cautious. You’re not thinking about your mistakes as much, per se. It’s a good constant flow state.”