Zac Jones doesn't mince his words about multiple healthy scratches amid NY Rangers' slump

Zac Jones voiced his displeasure with the New York Rangers after being scratched for four of the last five games amid the team's recent slump.

New York lost four straight games and fell to last place in the Metropolitan Division with a disappointing 16-19-1 record.

Jones told the New York Post:

“It f***ing sucks. It f***ing sucks,” when asked about his recent healthy scratches.

Jones also sat out six games earlier this season.

“It’s frustrating when you think you’re doing some things well, and it’s just, you just keep getting taken out, taken out, taken out. I just feel like I’m rotting away a little bit," he added.

The recent acquisitions of defensemen Will Borgen and Urho Vaakanainen have pushed Zac Jones down the depth chart.

“I mean, I'm not a 32-year-old guy collecting a paycheck. I'm a guy who wants to earn my paycheck. I need to play. I have things I need to improve in order to be a full-time player,and that's what I want to be.I want to be a guy who plays 82 games and be in the lineup every night," Jones said.

In 24 games this season, Jones has eight points and a +2 rating. He was originally drafted by the Rangers in the third round in 2019 and has played 95 games for the club over the past five seasons.

Jones isn't the first Ranger to complain about lineup choices during the team's recent struggles. Kaapo Kakko said he felt like a scapegoat before being traded, veteran Chris Kreider was recently scratched and former captain Jacob Trouba was also traded away.

Rangers' coach Peter Laviolette on scratching Zac Jones at start of the season

When addressing Jones' situation earlier this season, New York head coach Peter Laviolette pointed out the difficult nature of roster decisions while keeping the door open for the 24-year-old blueliner's return.

"We're going to have decisions that are tough," Laviolette explained on Oct. 19 via Mollie Walker on X/Twitter. I'm perfectly fine playing anybody, but we got decisions that we have to make... Conversations I've had with Zac are just keep working hard and when you get back in there just keep doing your thing."

The coach emphasized his ongoing communication with Jones, delivering a straightforward message about maintaining readiness.

It remains to be seen if Zac Jones will be in the lineup when the Rangers face off against the Boston Bruins on Thursday.