Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Seth Jones spoke to the media today to wrap up his team's season and, although disappointed in the way things turned out, the emerging star sees a bright future in the locker room.
“It's disappointing, obviously. We didn't like the way it ended, the way things ended, but I thought we learned a lot, ” Jones said from Nationwide Arena. “It was good that as a young team we got some playoff experience under our belt, to see what it takes to win. I thought we took a lot of positive things, though, from that series.”
Jones, who tied a Blue Jackets franchise record with 12 goals as a defenseman this season on the way to a 12–30–42 year, a young team grow over the course of the season, one in which his Blue Jackets set a club record with 50 wins and 108 points.
“I think it was kind of a feel out process to start the year. At training camp, we didn't really know what to expect. As a team, this has been one of the best teams, chemistry-wise, on and off the ice, and I think that showed in our play. We were really young. Sometimes, we'd joke in the locker room that it felt like we were on a junior team because we had 10 or 11 guys under 23. We had great fun this year. I enjoyed everyone in the locker room and you saw it translate on the ice.
“Sometimes, we'd joke in the locker room that it felt like we were on a junior team because we had 10 or 11 guys under 23.”– Seth Jones on the Youth of the Blue Jackets
“I think potential is through the roof,” Jones said. “You look at the pairs – me and Zach – I had a blast playing with Zach this year. I thought we did a lot of great things on the ice. Then you look at Jack [Johnson] and [David Savard], they were probably one of the best shutdown pairs in the NHL this year and they were also able to create offense. Even [Markus Nutivaara] had a great year. He probably surprised a lot of people this year with how he played.
“This D corps was one of the best I've been a part of, I think.”
And he expects the unit to continue to develop under the tutelage of assistant coach Brad Shaw.
“[Shaw] taught me a lot. I think I can talk for the rest of the [defense]. He brought a lot to us, I think, this year. A lot of new things. He loves teaching. From time to time, he'd let you know things. It's awesome to get his advice on a lot of different situations, so I thought he was awesome for our D corps.”
On next season:
“We obviously want to be in the postseason again. We're not going to be a one-and-done team and have people say, ‘Oh, they got lucky that year.’ We're going to the postseason every year. That's our goal. Our goal is to win a Stanley Cup every single year.
“We didn't do our job – I wouldn't say that, but it's not a success unless you win the Stanley Cup and that's what everyone wants to do.”
Despite getting bounced in the first round by the defending Stanley Cup Champions, Jones said the team learned some things from the Pittsburgh Penguins.
“I think momentum swings is something that we really tried to focus on. We'd dominate a first period and then come out slow in the second and they'd take advantage of that. They're a good team and they could smell blood in the water. They'd get one, but we can't let them get two or three-in-a-row.”
Next up for Jones may be a spot on Team USA for the World Championships. The defenseman said he's heard from the organization and hopes to make a decision in the coming days.
