Ice time on the rise for Blue Jackets' Seth Jones
Seth Jones is getting a chance to shine with the Columbus Blue Jackets.
It may not be translating on the score sheet and in the standings quite yet, but head coach John Tortorella is clearly leaning on the young defenseman early in his tenure with the club, as Jones is averaging well over 20 minutes of ice time since being acquired from the Nashville Predators.
| Date | Opponent | Ice Time | Points | Shots |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan. 8 | @ Carolina (L 4-1) | 22:31 | 0 | 1 |
| Jan. 9 | Carolina (L 4-3 OT) | 22:47 | 0 | 1 |
| Jan. 12 | NY Islanders (L 5-2) | 23:44 | 0 | 1 |
On top of that, Jones' deployment in Columbus brings far more responsibility than what he's used to.
According to War On Ice, Jones' offensive zone starts are down from 58.15 percent in Nashville to 47.06 with the Blue Jackets, while his power play time is up to 3.43 per game, from 2.36.
Sure, his possession numbers at even strength have taken a hit as a result of fewer offensive zone starts, but the power play time balances it out, meaning his Corsi rating in all situations has dipped only marginally, from 57.51 with the Predators to 55.3 in Columbus.
Add it all up, and the Blue Jackets are wasting no time in asserting Jones as a top-pair defenseman who will be relied upon for years to come.
Trading away a first-line center like Ryan Johansen is never easy to swallow, but the early returns suggest the Blue Jackets will have few regrets about adding a defenseman of Jones' ilk.