Is Seth Jones A Locker Room Cancer?

[Geoist]

I used to give Jones the benefit of the doubt. I never liked how he presented himself on camera/in interviews. He always seemed disinterested and bored. However, as an introvert I understand that one could be different around others compared to the spotlight. But now that his play has clearly regressed, none of this can be ignored anymore. There just seem to be a lot of clues that he is not the leader we'd want him to be on this team. Why don't they play him with Vlasic anymore? Instead they are pairing him with... Brodie and Allan?? Also, I know I'm not the only one who notices Jones' reluctance to pass to Bedard. I seriously wonder if he's bitter about never being considered for the captaincy... which also makes me wonder about his relationship with Foligno.

I know this is mostly speculation. But just can't help but wonder.

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[Blackhawkswincup]

I have not heard a single bad thing about him in lockeroom as NHLer

It appears only thing he could be accused of is being introvert but that does not make one a cancer

And he appeared to fit in well with his teammates in Columbus when they had Bob and others there

 

[Mrfenn92]

Don’t think so at all

 

[MHO]

I don't think he's a cancer at all but his demeanor appears aloof. I do think that's just him being an introvert. I was starting to be encouraged by his play in the beginning of the season but since he's returned from his injury, he's looked like dogshit.

I have a feeling he'll find his game and if he ends up being a very expensive 2nd pairing Dman when this team is ready to compete, I'll be ok with that. His contract will be up when any of the kids reach UFA.

 

[Geoist]

Yeah, I hope you guys are right and that there isn't anything beyond his poor play of late. Hopefully, it's just a coincidence the team seems less motivated since his return. The weird pairings among other things just have me wondering if there's something going on with the team's locker room chemistry.

 

[Clownish]

It's more likely that his return coincided with the new coach energy bump wearing off. He's had several terrible games since coming back but over the top reactions saying he's the cause for the downfall of a team that won a few games in a row is absurd. This team doesn't have the high end talent to sustain a winning streak and turn that into a trend that puts them in the playoff chase. Calling up a few guys from Rockford isn't going to raise the compete level much beyond another temporary bump.

 

[TheFridge]

I think he's a cancer for this team but for his on-ice play. You can't have a player getting paid 9.5M per year, playing 24 minutes a night, who plays such brain-dead hockey as Jones. Same thing goes for Brodie, though he obviously plays less. How are you supposed to foster a competitive meritocracy when you have veterans who are objectively terrible who keep getting thrown out there?

Jones has been f***ing dreadful this year. He should be in the press box next game. But he won't be. Brodie has been worse, but again, finds himself playing game after game. It's unacceptable and it's really bad precedent to set and an awful standard to watch for young players.

To make matters worse, I don't even think Jones cares anymore. He plays like he doesn't care. He's resigned to be being awful, and awful is what he's become. I'd ship him out and pay a premium to do it.

 

[x Tame Impala]

I hope they can find a way to trade him

 

[Hattrick Kane]

Usual suspects here. But Seth played five games this month, like holy hell.

 

[GIADF]

View attachment 954453

Usual suspects here. But Seth played five games this month, like holy hell.

I am confused as to why this has McDavid at LW. Is it just forcing a line of top forwards and ignoring positions, I assume?

 

[Hattrick Kane]

I am confused as to why this has McDavid at LW. Is it just forcing a line of top forwards and ignoring positions, I assume?

Pretty much

 

[Blackhawkswincup]

View attachment 954453

Usual suspects here. But Seth played five games this month, like holy hell.

NYR really trying hard to get into the pack with Hawks/Preds/Sharks at bottom of NHL

 

[Northernhawk]

Have to remember it’s the first time Sorensen is coaching an NHL roster…while Jones was out, the other dmen were playing more minutes…Murphy Vlasic and Allan shone…now they’ve been reduced somewhat

 

[Crow]

View attachment 954453

Usual suspects here. But Seth played five games this month, like holy hell.

Good post. I was about to say, is Mrazek a cancer too? Since his return the hawks have also been terrible. One game before jones came back to suck Mrazek got smoked by the flames.

 

[Wally1112pac]

You'd have to spend a of time in the locker room, at practice on the ice and on the flights to figure this out.

I haven't heard any report in his 13 years that would suggest he is a bad teammate.

 

[Pez68]

Duplicate

 

[Pez68]

He's a cancer because of his play on the ice. He is a selfish, lazy player, with terrible hockey IQ. The fact that there is no accountability for his putrid play will absolutely cause problems in the locker room. He comes back from injury and immediately displaces Vlasic on the top PP unit, when there was no reason to do so. He comes back and is first over the boards on the PK, and the PK has been putrid since he returned to the lineup.

When your "leaders" and highest paid players are setting examples like that, it's horrible for the team culture.

PK without Seth Jones is 93%. Games he's played this season they are at 76%.

 

[Hattrick Kane]

He's a cancer because of his play on the ice. He is a selfish, lazy player, with terrible hockey IQ. The fact that there is no accountability for his putrid play will absolutely cause problems in the locker room. He comes back from injury and immediately displaces Vlasic on the top PP unit, when there was no reason to do so. He comes back and is first over the boards on the PK, and the PK has been putrid since he returned to the lineup.

When your "leaders" and highest paid players are setting examples like that, it's horrible for the team culture.

PK without Seth Jones is 93%. Games he's played this season they are at 76%.

I was gonna say, toxicity doesn’t always manifest in say verbal abuse. Being around someone so mopey can be draining to a team, especially when the org. leans heavily on him for some reason.

He’s an energy vampire.

 

[FDBluth]

Howdy, I've been following the Hawks a bit since I like following Bedard's progress.

The biggest thing I notice with Seth Jones is he doesn't play within the flow of the game. He always takes an extra second to settle the puck, make a pass, etc. Players that are in motion anticipating his plays get them standing still, or when the play has already passed. It's frustrating to watch. He gets by on his physical skills and will always get some points and goals because of that but he just doesn't play the game at pace. Unless he has a very specific role on a structured team, I don't think his style is good for a developing team at all.

 

[Behn Wilson]

Get him off the PP!!!!

 

[Pez68]

Get him off the PP!!!!

He shouldn't be on any special teams.

 

[Backyard Hockey]

I used to give Jones the benefit of the doubt. I never liked how he presented himself on camera/in interviews. He always seemed disinterested and bored. However, as an introvert I understand that one could be different around others compared to the spotlight. But now that his play has clearly regressed, none of this can be ignored anymore. There just seem to be a lot of clues that he is not the leader we'd want him to be on this team. Why don't they play him with Vlasic anymore? Instead they are pairing him with... Brodie and Allan?? Also, I know I'm not the only one who notices Jones' reluctance to pass to Bedard. I seriously wonder if he's bitter about never being considered for the captaincy... which also makes me wonder about his relationship with Foligno.

I know this is mostly speculation. But just can't help but wonder.

No idea about locker room. I just go by what I see on the ice. This team is playing horrible hockey and since his return. Went from winning 3 in a row to losing 5 in a row and giving up 5g a game

 

[hawksfan50]

Well I do not think itbisxa locker room problem...rather an ability problem...
He is not living upto his pay level since he joined the team in the trade from Columbus..

He doesvnotcshowcthevdefebsive focus,anticipation forboroperbpisition ,unable to finish checks or clear the crease ,very latec reactive on switches and unable to recover to best defensive position when he is beat or his partner is beat..I just do not think he has the aptitude or hockey defensive sense you need to be a goal preventing dnan ...I do not think he is even average at defending g...
On offebse his shot is not much of a threat to the opps..he does not score enough or create enough to help others score such that his offense woukd cover for his defensive flaws such .that at least hecwoukdvbe around even/average..but he is Mr.Negative...

He is notcan ekite PK guy either..nor on the Po.Pso he does not offset his flaws.

Sonetines his focus lags amd you get check-cashing non-chalance ..he does not saisfy the eye test for a reliable dman...plays big minutes so the negatives per 60 dominate...yes..they play him vs. top lines but bottom line ,they score on him way too much and he does not score on them enough.

I just think he is mis-used as a dman...would
like to try him as a power winger...freeing his mind to simpler tasks should make him do a few things well instead of trying to rely on him forc5x5,pk and pp excellence...just cannot be relied on to do thise tasks well as a big minutes dman...simply hiscrile
.just powering on rushes..slam the dmen into the boards on tge ensuing forecheck..get thebkose puck and take it to the net ...he has size he has speed once he moves his feet.. itcwill pise problems for the opps if he just does only a few things well as a power forward...less shifts...less tinevon shift...more focused to less tasks.. less processing ..he should be more energized and enthusiastic.Hisxshot stinksxso he will not I think score many goals hinself...but the power chaos he could create should lead to chances from lose pucks at the crease and rebound chances for other Hawks on shift with him.
.So my answer is...no not a locker -room cancer..but completely mis-used..hevis notca goid dman at all..but he night be useful as a forward causing havoc in the o-zone (remember when they put Bufiglien fron defense to forward,he created chaos for thevooos D and the Hawks got scoring chancesoff that chaos)..
On D ...$9.5 if asked to handle pucks at the point on keep-ins, he fails or fumbles too much ..his hands not great ..and if he fumbles or pinches in too deep Hawks caught on 2 on1s..but if as a forward caught in deep therecshould be Dme covering back so I would trade the risk of him being caught in deep in the o-zone as a winger vs. him being caught in deep as a dman,precisely because we would have a dman back in place to stop the puck-carrier in neutral ice ..

So I see re-tasking his role into a power winger as the best way to utilize what he can do best ...carry the puck in on power rushes...go chase it and hammer opposition d hard into the boards like a freight train coming at them..create chaos..grab loose pucks off the forecheck and take it to the net...probably not score himself off these power moves but the chaos it causes at the net should give other Hawks more space off their checks for shots and a kit ofvrebound chances.
I think he could be useful if he embraces such a new role..in any case what he is doing now as a dman just is not working well.. and his fails affect the psyche of the team..

Just an aside...in the 10 December games prior to $9.5's return,Alex Vlasic had 2g 5 a...In the 5 games since Seth back=Zero points for Vlasic ...wheras without a seth Vlasic was energic with more offensive attacking and rushes and shooting more trying to create offense,in the 5 games back he is deferring back to a more passive less energetic counter game ...like itvis let Seth provide the offense mentality...it has not worked as Vlasic not"leadibg" lije hecwas with Seth out ...Seth coming back has hurtvVladic's development into a betterc2cwah dman...The key Seth do it mentality has infested the whoke team I think.

So IMO ...simplify for Seth ..make homa power winger type..let others like Vlasic take up those other functions we need fro. The d-corps..

 

[Larmer83]

I was gonna say, toxicity doesn’t always manifest in say verbal abuse. Being around someone so mopey can be draining to a team, especially when the org. leans heavily on him for some reason.

He’s an energy vampire.

Is someone a fan of What We Do in the Shadows?

 

[Blackhawks]

That trade was a disaster from day 1 and the hockey knowledgeable of us called it at the time. Who cares about “locker room” when he is garbage on the ice?