Seth Jones takes more heat from the fans than any player on the Chicago Blackhawks. A lot of it is over the top. But the reality is that, since he returned from his injury on Dec. 21, he’s had more headshake-inducing moments than those worthy of applause. He was on the ice for three of the Oilers’ goals on Saturday night, including getting boxed out by Zach Hyman on the game-winning goal. It’s been a rough stretch of play for Jones that has been amplified by how seemingly well the Blackhawks’ blue line was playing while he was out (especially on the penalty kill).
Ben Pope talked to Jones and assistant coach Kevin Dean about what Jones needs to do better. Yeah, he’s adjusting to the change in systems; the data says he was actually doing much better under Luke Richardson. But that’s not an excuse for a 30-year-old defenseman who has now spent ten games on the ice for Anders Sorensen. He knows he has to be better. So do the coaches.
The Blackhawks need Seth Jones to play better than he has the past month. That’s an objective fact.
“We talked about winning pucks and keeping the puck out of his net for a while. That’s how you get some confidence.”
- Let’s stay in Rockford for a moment because their lineup for the game last night was… noteworthy. You’ll notice below that the IceHogs listed six defensemen and only 11 forwards. And you’ll also notice that Artyom Levshunov, Paul Ludwinski and Joey Anderson aren’t listed. (It worked out okay; Drew Commesso pitched his second shutout of the season in a 5-0 win over Milwaukee.)
Another day of IceHogs hockey 😁#GoHogs pic.twitter.com/Hyu3KEgwPU
— Rockford IceHogs (@goicehogs) January 12, 2025
- The next layer of intrigue around those three missing from the lineup is the AHL’s transactions show the IceHogs calling up forwards Kyle Maksimovich and Ryan Gagnier and defenseman DJ King on Monday (see below).
- Before we get crazy with speculation, I don’t think Ludwinski or Levshunov is anywhere close to being ready for the NHL right now. And the Blackhawks would have to announce a corresponding transaction to call anyone up; they’re already at 23 players on the roster, sitting two forwards and one defensemen every night. Nobody was on waivers on Sunday. And I don’t think Anderson/Ludwinski replacing Frank Nazar and/or Colton Dach makes any sense whatsoever (or Levshunov for Louis Crevier for that matter). And the AHL transaction page doesn’t indicate anyone is being recalled to Chicago. But the fact that three guys were scratched, the IceHogs played down a body and then called up three guys is worth watching for sure.
- Now this fun video featuring Connor Bedard:
- In the OHL, Sudbury buried Kingston 10-6 on Sunday afternoon. Blackhawks prospect Alex Pharand had three primary assists in the game. He now has seven assists in his last three games and 10 helpers in his last seven games. He’s also put 17 shots on net in the last three games, including nine on Sunday!
- And, as noted here, Blackhawks prospect Roman Kantserov is one of only four players in the KHL playing at a point-per-game pace right now. He’s the youngest. And the only one without NHL experience.
