With Jones out week-to-week, moving him to IR was a formality to create a roster spot for Sandis Vilmanis to be recalled from the AHL.



With Jones out week-to-week, moving him to IR was a formality to create a roster spot for Sandis Vilmanis to be recalled from the AHL.

Jones did not play in Florida's most recent game due to an upper-body injury and is out week-to-week. The 31-year-old Jones was having a solid season before his injury, averaging 23:29 time-on-ice and scoring 24 points (6G / 18A) in 40 games. Aaron Ekblad has been productive from Florida's blueline lately and should continue seeing offensive success as he will claim a larger role during Jones' absence.



Jones was acquired in a trade from the Blackhawks on Saturday along with a 2026 fourth-round pick in exchange for Spencer Knight and a conditional 2026 first-round pick from the Chicago Blackhawks. The 30-year-old Jones scored 27 points (7G / 20A) and recorded a -18 plus/minus rating in 42 games with the Blackhawks this season. He was practicing with Florida's second powerplay unit and is expected to draw into the lineup on Monday against the Tampa Bay Lightning.



Jones was a surprise scratch on Friday with the team not announcing his absence prior to warmups.


Jones did not play the last two games and will be out of the lineup for approximately four more weeks. Jones was enjoying a semi-productive season with the Blackhawks, averaging 25:43 time-on-ice and scoring 10 points (2G / 8A) in 17 games. Alex Vlasic has been serving as the quarterback on the top powerplay unit in Jones' absence.



Jones has not played since December 10th due to a shoulder injury but looks like he could return Saturday vs. Dallas after participating in full Friday at practice. The 29-year-old has struggled offensively this season with little help around him in Chicago, as he is yet to score a goal but has 11 assists, 60 SOG, 14 PIMs and a -5 plus/minus through 27 games prior to the injury. He'll lineup up on first power play and the Blackhawks' top defensive pairing when he does return.


Jones will not play on Tuesday due to an upper-body injury and is being evaluated further to see the full extent of his injury. Jones has three points in his last four games while averaging over 26 minutes on ice.

Jones has 10 goals, 22 assists, 158 SOG, 28 PIMs and a -32 plus/minus through 64 games this season but will be a game-time decision Thursday as he deals with an illness. The 28-year-old should know his status at warmups, prior to the game.

Jones has missed the last 10 games due to a thumb injury but will return to the Blackhawks' lineup Wednesday. Prior to the injury, the 26-year-old star defenseman had four assists and 22 SOG through eight games played while posting a -5 plus/minus rating.


Jones missed four games while in COVID-19 protocol but he's now on track to return to the lineup vs. the Wild on Friday.

