“He’s going to be really good for us, ” was Paul Maurice’s prediction. Two months later, we are getting to see what the Florida Panthers coach was talking about. In just these two short months, Seth Jones has settled well into the new setup. And he is not just doing his blue line duties for the reigning Stanley Cup Champions. When needed, he has come up with the odd goal. But his defensive game needed a change, and before Game 4 began on May 28, the Panthers #3 sat down to tell us what exactly was new for him. And here’s the scoop.
The reveal was part of the pregame presser on May 28. The Panthers are leading 3-1 and will want to wrap up the Conference Title as fast as possible. But before all that, the reporters wanted to know how his experience has been at the Panthers. Two months have passed, during which he has been involved a lot.
His best turnout has to be against the Toronto Maple Leafs in Game 7. On road ice, he had 1 goal and 1 assist while the Maple Leafs had only 1 goal to show for themselves in the 6-1 blowout. In fact, the way the Panthers D-line kept the likes of Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, William Nylander, and Max Pacioretty quiet, it was definitely a worthy defensive performance.
When asked about how he was fitting with the team, Seth Jones said, “I think when I came in, I was doing a lot of video. You know, it was a completely new system. And I did a lot of video with Sly (Sylvian Lefebvre).” Sylvian Lefebvre is the team’s assistant coach. “I still do a lot of video with him about the system and the changes,” the Panthers defenseman said. And talking about the transition, Jones said, “I’m used to a team where the fours do a lot of the tracking and the D kind of stay in the dots and protect the middle.”
Image via Facebook/ Florida Panthers
In Chicago, Jones was part of a disorganized team struggling to find their identity amidst a rebuild. But in Florida, he had to take up extra responsibility. Well, it’s not responsibility in itself, it’s the way the Panthers set up. Seth Jones explained it in the presser, “This system, you’re really forced to get up in the play, set your gap really early so that when your guy does get it, you’re right on them. You’re taking time and space away. So that was a little bit of an adjustment.”
The offensive role has also been added to his job description, but that’s not what the Panthers D-man focuses on. “My main focus is being solid defensively, and that’s what I’ve tried to do since I got here. And the coaches have done a great job of, like I said, showing me clips and really keep me engaged in that.” And as for putting pucks in the net, he’s letting nature take its course.
Because ultimately the Florida Panthers defenseman was brought in to bolster the D-line; any goals are simply a bonus. The Panthers have enough forwards to keep their opponents busy. Like Brad Marchand, who joined with Seth Jones and settled in with the team so seamlessly, while it took some time for Jones to get going.
Panthers defenseman Seth Jones needed some time to find his footing in Florida
For Brad Marchand, the Florida Panthers transition has seemed so easy. “The group is incredible. And it’s a very easy group to feel at home with,” he said. And this is despite not being able to get on the ice for the first few games after the March deadline trade because the veteran forward was injured.
Credits – Instagram / @flapanthers
But for Seth Jones, it has been slow progress to getting where he is now. And it’s still a work in progress. “You know, I’m still renting a place, so I don’t have, you know, full roots down yet,” the defenseman said on May 25, even during the ongoing Eastern Conference Final.
He added, “There are some years left on the contract, and, you know, I’m just focused on hockey right now. I’m not really focused on anything else besides, you know, being the best player I can be on the ice and trying to help the team win.”
The thing is, the fans like what he does. If the Panthers and Seth Jones come to an arrangement, we can see him being in Florida for a while. What do you think? Will Seth Jones be a Florida Panthers player after the 2024-25 season?
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