Penguins’ Caleb Jones to miss rest of 2025-26 following shoulder surgery
An early end to what has been a tumultuous campaign for a former prospect.
On Friday, Pittsburgh Penguins general manager Kyle Dubas announced that defenseman Caleb Jones underwent successful surgery on his right shoulder, with an expected recovery time of 4-6 months. The operation knocks him out for the rest of the season, though the team is optimistic he will be ready to return to action in time for the 2026-27 campaign.
Penguins defenseman Caleb Jones underwent successful surgery on his right shoulder. The expected recovery time is four to six months, and for Jones to be ready for the start of the 2026.27 regular season. Details: pens.pe/4tpJfiT
Per a release from the team, the surgery was completed on March 18 at the Steadman Clinic by Dr. Peter Millett, in collaboration with the Penguins’ head team physician, Dr. Dharmesh Vyas.
The 2025-26 season has been one to forget for the 28-year-old. He suffered a lower-body injury back in late October that kept him out of action for almost three months. As part of his recovery, he joined Pittsburgh’s American Hockey League affiliate, the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, in January, playing one game with the team.
While he was on the shelf for the next few weeks, Jones failed a drug test, leading to him being suspended 20 games for “violating the terms of the NHL/NHLPA Performance Enhancing Substances Program.”
Jones appeared in just seven games with the big club before the ailment, posting an assist on Oct. 11 against the New York Rangers. The Arlington, Texas native has appeared in 255 regular-season games in his NHL career, scoring 14 goals and 42 assists for 56 points.
Jones is in the first season of a two-year contract that he signed with the Pens on July 1 of last year. The deal has a cap hit of $900,000.
In the meantime, the Penguins (38-22-16) are second in the Metropolitan Division, 10 points back of the Carolina Hurricanes for first.