Just as things seemed to be going well for the Columbus Blue Jackets, they have placed their top-pairing defenseman Seth Jones on injured reserve. The official word from the organization is that Jones has suffered a hairline fracture in his foot as a result of Saturday’s contest against the St. Louis Blues. According to team doctors, the timeline for his return is approximately three weeks, placing his return near the start of December.
Seth Jones will miss approximately three weeks with a hairline fracture of his foot. #cbj
DETAILS: https://t.co/oEES4CmhHG pic.twitter.com/uDUxe5znyf
— Columbus Blue Jackets (@BlueJacketsNHL) November 7, 2016
Seth Jones Suffers Injury Setback
Losing Jones will almost certainly hamper the Jackets’ efforts on both sides of the puck, as he has provided stellar performances early in the season. Alongside the talented youngster Zach Werenski, Jones has contributed three goals and three assists across the first ten games and has averaged over 24 minutes on ice so far. His presence on the Jackets’ blue line has helped to solidify a defensive corps that has struggled in the past, and his offensive prowess, both at even strength and on the powerplay, has helped the team earn points multiple times already in the young season.
With Jones out, defensive defenseman Dalton Prout will likely return to the lineup, with either David Savard or Jack Johnson slotting next to Werenski for the time being. Werenski, who has proven himself just as productive as Jones, has thrived in his top-pairing role and may suffer a minor setback next to less creative players such as Johnson and Savard. Luckily for the Jackets, however, he has been composed and mature beyond his 19 years and will almost certainly rise to the occasion.
The remainder of the November schedule is certainly tough for the Jackets, with games against the Washington Capitals, New York Rangers, Florida Panthers, and Tampa Bay Lightning all coming up before Jones’ estimated return. This segment of the schedule will put the “Next Man Up” philosophy to the test and could act as a directional indicator for the rest of the season. The Blue Jackets return to action on Wednesday against the Anaheim Ducks, where they will look to rebound from an overtime loss in St. Louis on Saturday.
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