Zac Jones lands AHL First All-Star Team after 60-point season for Amerks

Zac Jones did more than land on the AHL First All-Star Team. He put together one of the most productive offensive seasons by an Amerks defenseman in nearly 20 years, finishing with 60 points and forcing the Buffalo organization to confront a much harder roster question than a typical minor-league award would suggest.

The AHL announced Jones among its six First All-Star Team selections after a vote by coaches, players and media from each of the league’s 32 member cities. The 25-year-old led all AHL defensemen in scoring with 60 points in 59 games for Rochester, piling up 10 goals and a league-best 50 assists. The league also said each All-Star Team member will receive a custom-designed crystal award.

For Rochester, the honor lands with real weight because Jones was not simply productive, he was historic. He became the first Amerks defenseman to reach 60 points in nearly two decades, matching a mark last set by Clay Wilson, who posted 60 points in 2009-10. Jones also became the first Rochester blueliner to reach 50 assists since Terry Hollinger did it in 1995-96, and he is only the eighth defenseman in franchise history to reach 60 points.

That run has changed the way Jones is viewed inside the organization. Buffalo signed him to a one-year, two-way contract on July 1, 2025, and what looked like a prudent depth addition last summer now looks far more significant. The AHL identified Jones as a free-agent signing by Buffalo, while Rochester has called him a two-time AHL All-Star and its leading candidate for the Eddie Shore Award, which goes to the league’s outstanding defenseman.

The timing makes the recognition even sharper. Rochester entered the final weekend of the regular season still playing for playoff positioning, and Jones’ selection only underscored how much he has driven the Amerks from the blue line. He ranked second on the team in scoring while pacing all AHL blueliners, a rare combination that gives Buffalo a real decision point as it looks ahead: whether Jones stays a dominant AHL centerpiece or earns a stronger look higher up the ladder after one of the best offensive seasons a Rochester defenseman has produced in years.