Seth Jones is going to be out of the Chicago Blackhawks lineup for a while. After playing in 17 games, Jones is on IR with a foot injury. Before getting hurt, he had two goals and eight assists for 10 points in those 17 games.
Jones was also doing a great job on the defensive side of the puck which is something that’s been an issue over the last handful of years. This is a terrible time for him to be hitting the IR because of the fact that he’s bounced back well this year.
The Blackhawks were already without Jones in their most recent game, a 4-1 loss to the Vancouver Canucks. He was missed.
During the game, it was clear that young defenseman Alex Vlasic missed his partner Jones. That was extra apparent on Vancouver’s second goal of the game, the eventual game-winner scored by Erik Brannstrom.
Now this wasn’t all Vlasic’s fault but he certainly looks a little bit flat-footed on the goal. He’s played very well this season but now he has to step up with Jones out.
The Blackhawks are going to learn more about his ability to do that as they play more games without Jones. Can he be the team’s top guy? The tools are there for him to do so. It’s on him to prove his overall worth to the team. He was a high-end second-round pick for a reason.
Unlike what we’ve seen from Jones in his NHL career, Vlasic isn’t going to be an offensive catalyst. He can run a power play if needed but he isn’t your preferred guy. He is an outstanding two-way defender, however, who is strong in his own zone and makes a good first pass.
With the Anaheim Ducks and Florida Panthers coming to the United Center this week, Vlasic will be asked to defend against some elite talent. Without Seth Jones, it’s a great test for the young blue-liner.
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