New York Rangers‘ defenseman Zac Jones isn’t thrilled with how he’s been utilized lately.

Jones has been a healthy scratch of late, not dressing since Dec.23 against the New Jersey Devils. Jones caught up with Larry Brooks of the New York Post and didn’t mince any words. “It (expletive) sucks, it (expletive) sucks,” Jones told Brooks Jan.1. “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.”

Jones has been a healthy scratch in four of the last five games, meanwhile the Rangers have lost four games in a row, and are 2-8-0 in their past 10 games. “I’m not a 32-year-old guy collecting a paycheck,” the 24-year-old Jones said. “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.”

Originally a 2019 third-round pick, Jones has appeared in 26 games for the Rangers this season, scoring once, and adding seven assists. The mobile blueliner has averaged 16:41 of ice-time when he does dress, which is a career high. Jones has also been used on the Rangers’ second power-play in spurts this season, and has also recorded 24 shots on goal, 14 hits, and 16 blocked shots this year.

Rangers’ head coach Peter Laviolette has been tasked with trying to get his hockey club back on track, meanwhile GM Chris Drury has been busy dealing both Kaapo Kakko and Jacob Trouba out of town. Laviolette can appreciate Jones’ frustrations, as it’s been a tough year in New York on a lot of people. “It’s okay to be frustrated. I’m perfectly fine with that,” Laviolette said. “Everybody wants to play. You get to this level, everyone wants in. They want to play. And I’m okay with that.”

The Rangers are 16-19-1 on the year, and enter Thursday’s action seven points out of a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.