Seth Jones is looking forward to a reset with the Florida Panthers.
Jones joined the Panthers on the ice Monday in his first practice since being acquired from the Chicago Blackhawks skating on the team's second pairing with Niko Mikkola.
“I wanted to play for a contender and Florida was obviously at the top of my list when it came to that,” said Jones, who hasn't appeared in a playoff game since 2020. “I want to fit in with this team, be a part of the system, come and bring my game, play hard defensively, help a little bit offensively, really just fit into the system and bring what I can, whatever’s asked of me.”
The Blackhawks never made the playoffs in Jones’ tenure there and aren’t in post-season contention this year, which led to him asking for a trade about a week and a half ago.
“I’ve been here the last four years, through probably the darkest times the Blackhawks have seen in a while,” Jones said last month. “I think things are moving up. They are moving forward. But I think my timeline might be different than ... the Blackhawks.”
Florida sits second in the Atlantic Division behind the Toronto Maple Leafs and currently would play the Tampa Bay Lightning in the first round.
The reigning Stanley Cup champs will also have to navigate the final stretch of the season without Matthew Tkachuk, who was placed on long-term injured reserve and isn't expected to be back until the playoffs.
