Pittsburgh added to their defensive depth on Day 1 of Free Agency by signing seven-year veteran Caleb Jones to a two-year, $1.8 million contract ($900,000 AAV). The 28-year-old defenseman appeared in six games for Los Angeles in 2024-25 but failed to pick up a point. He should fight for one of Pittsburgh's final defensive spots to start the season.
The Kings are already locked into the second spot in the Pacific division, so Jones will slot in along with Akil Thomas, Trevor Lewis, and Kyle Burroughs for Tuesday's game in Seattle. Mikey Anderson, Drew Doughty, Anze Kopitar, and Quinton Byfield will all get the night off.
Jones played five games with the Kings earlier this season but has spent most of the 2024-25 campaign in the AHL. The 27-year-old Jones has 20 points (2G / 18A) in 42 games with the Ontario Reign (AHL) this season.
Jones played five games with the Kings this season, scoring zero points and averaging 12:49 time-on-ice. The 27-year-old has primarily been an NHL player, with only 12 contests in the AHL since the 2019-20 season.
Jones suffered an upper-body injury and exited Wednesday's 4-2 loss to the Colorado Avalanche after only 5:56 time-on-ice. He has been placed on Injured Reserve and will be out of the lineup for at least a week, retroactive to November 13th.
Jones will be the odd-man out on the Kings' blue line on Wednesday as they opt to get some fresh bodies into the lineup for the tail-end of their back-to-back. Andreas Englund will draw into the lineup in Jones' place.
Jones spent 2023-24 with the Colorado Avalanche and has earned himself a one-year, two-way contract with Los Angeles on Friday. The 27-year-old defensemen is the younger brother of Columbus' Seth Jones and added five assists in 25 games to his 14 goals and 55 career points that he has amassed over five seasons prior to 2023-24.
With Devon Toews (illness) returning from injury for Game 5, Caleb Jones will be a healthy scratch on Wednesday. The 26-year-old has appeared in three games for the Avalanche in the playoffs but has yet to pick up a point to go along with his six PIMs and +1 plus/minus.
Jones will take a seat on Friday after playing in each of the first two games of the series. His absence makes way for the return of Samuel Girard (concussion).
Jones will draw into lineup in place of Jonathan Drouin, who is sidelined with a lower-body injury. He will likely rotate defensive partners as the team's seventh defenseman.
Josh Manson is battling a lower-body injury and will be replaced by Jones if he is not able to suit up. Jones has not played since January 15th, an 18-game stretch.
Jones will be the odd-man out on Tuesday as Miles Wood is set to return from an illness. Jones has no goals and four assists in 20 games this season.
Jones will take a seat on Thursday as Cale Makar is set to return from an upper-body injury. Jones has no goals and three assists in 15 games this season.
Jones will be a healthy scratch for the Avalanche as defensemen Bowen Byram and Cale Makar, both previously game-time decisions, will suit up for Thursday night's contest against the Winnipeg Jets. Jones has two points (0G / 2A), averaging 12:45 time-on-ice in 12 games with the Avalanche this season.
Jones played sensational in his one game showing with the Avalanche after he picked up an assist and +1 plus/minus in 15:42 TOI in his debut Monday but will head back to the Colorado Eagles (AHL) Tuesday. The 26-year-old will be called upon for depth when needed but for now returns to the minors where he had six assists, and eight PIMs in 12 games prior to his call up.
