Werenski eases Jones’ return
As Zach Werenski labored through last season with a shoulder injury, it was Seth Jones who helped cover for some of his liabilities.
Now Werenski is returning the favor. Jones, who has played in just three games because of a knee injury suffered in preseason, has been easing back into things as his defensive partner helps him get back up to speed.
“I think Z has helped Jonesy on a couple occasions on the ice,” coach John Tortorella said Monday. “Jonesy’s still trying to find his game with some rust on him.”
Jones was expected to miss four to six weeks. He returned to the lineup and full game action in exactly 28 days as the Jackets hosted Arizona one week ago. He scored his first goal of the season two days later against St. Louis and is plus-3 while averaging 25:13 in ice time per game, a figure slightly ahead of last year’s average.
For that, he credits his offseason work as well as an intense rehab program while recovering from the knee Blue Jackets defenseman Seth Jones, who missed the first seven games of the season because of a knee injury, has averaged 25:13 in ice time since his return. injury.
“I feel good,” he said. “My legs feel good. My lungs feel good. Some of the reads I’m making aren’t there all the time right now. I don’t think I’ve put a complete 60 minutes together so far, which is frustrating because I expect so much out of myself.”
Werenski has two goals and six assists this season while averaging 24:10 per game and helping Jones get back to his old self.
“It’s been good,”
Jones said. “Z’s been very aggressive this year, which makes my life easy. I always know I can look to him and find him on the ice whenever I need to.”
After playing an October schedule that featured a couple of long breaks, the Jackets will play 14 games in November and start feeling more of a rhythm to the season. Tortorella said he’s looking forward to players learning lessons on the ice rather than in practice or film sessions, and Jones said he’s ready for the grind that lies ahead.
“I want to be on the ice as much as possible right now,” he said. “I’m not going to make excuses about how I was hurt and rust and everything. I just have to be better at the moment and I expect a whole lot more out of myself.”
Both Scott Harrington and Dean Kukan have rotated alongside David Savard as the team’s third defensive pairing since Jones’ return, and Tortorella said Harrington will remain in that role with Kukan and Adam Clendening on the outside looking for playing time.
Center Brandon Dubinsky, who suffered an oblique injury during practice and has missed the last eight games, skated for the full practice Monday on the main ice at Nationwide Arena. But asked if Dubinsky is full-go, Tortorella said, “No one’s told me that. He was out there but no one has given me the go-ahead.”