Predators have high hopes for Jones
NASHVILLE — Seth Jones’ jersey is already setting Nashville’s first-round draft pick apart from the other prospects at the Predators’ annual development camp.
Jones, selected by the Predators with the fourth overall pick in the June 30 draft, stepped onto the ice with his preferred No. 3 sewn on the back of his jersey. Many of the other players sported the much higher numbers typically given to prospects who are years away from reaching the NHL.
Jones is only 18 years old, but the Predators are going to give the six-foot-four defenceman every opportunity to make Nashville’s season-opening roster.
“He’s a young man, who you can tell at 18 years old, he’s got lots of poise and polish and moves pretty well,” Predators coach Barry Trotz said. “He’s a foundation-type player who will be a foundation-type for us for a number of years.”
Jones joined other Predators prospects on an early-morning track workout at nearby Vanderbilt University in the oppressive Tennessee heat and humidity. He then got on the ice for a practice session that consisted mostly of power skating drills.
“It was pretty intense,” Jones said. “It was good to get back on the ice and learn from some of the coaches who are here.”
Jones was the top player on the NHL Central Scouting’s final list of North American skaters for the 2013 draft.
The Predators happily took him after the Colorado Avalanche (Nathan MacKinnon), Florida Panthers (Aleksander Barkov) and Tampa Bay Lightning (Jonathan Drouin) drafted forwards instead.
After one season with the Portland Winterhawks of the WHL, Jones hopes that his junior days are behind him.
“I have been asked whether he can play for our team this year,” Predators general manager David Poile said last week. “Our scouts feel he can. The hockey world feels he can.”