Blue Jackets all-star defenseman Seth Jones to be sidelined 4-6 weeks

Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Seth Jones is expected to miss four to six weeks due to a sprained knee suffered during the second period of last night's preseason game vs. the Buffalo Sabres, club General Manager Jarmo Kekalainen announced today. Jones underwent an MRI today that revealed a second degree sprain of his medial collateral ligament.

Jones, who turns 24 on October 3, earned Second Team NHL All-Star honors with Columbus in 2017-18 after tallying 16 goals and 41 assists for 57 points with a +10 plus/minus rating in 78 games. His 16 goals tied teammate Zach Werenski for the club record for goals in a season by a defenseman.
Since joining the Blue Jackets in January 2016, he has registered 30-89-119, 66 penalty minutes and averaged 20:06 time on ice in 194 games. In 393 career NHL games with the Blue Jackets and Nashville Predators, Jones has amassed 45-137-182 and 120 penalty minutes, while averaging 21:54 TOI. The Arlington, Texas native was selected by Nashville with the fourth overall pick at the 2013 NHL Draft. He made his NHL All-Star Game debut in 2017 and was selected to appear again last season, but missed the game due to illness.