Former Rangers defenseman wins prestigious AHL award after leaving New York

Former Rangers defenseman wins prestigious AHL award after leaving New York

Sustained NHL success eluded Zac Jones during his five-year tenure with the New York Rangers from 2020 to 2025. But that could change after the former Blueshirts defenseman — now a member of the Buffalo Sabres organization — turned heads with a stellar 2025-26 campaign in the American Hockey League. Jones was named the Eddie Shore Award winner as the top defenseman in the AHL, the League announced Tuesday. He paced all AHL defensemen with 62 poi…

Amerks’ Jones earns Eddie Shore Award

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. … The American Hockey League announced today that Zac Jones of the Rochester Americans is the winner of the Eddie Shore Award as the AHL’s outstanding defenseman for the 2025-26 season. The award was voted on by coaches, players and members of the media representing each of the league’s 32 cities. Jones led all defensemen with 62 points in 60 games while becoming just the second blueliner in the AHL’s 90-year history to lead th