If the Columbus Blue Jackets want to make a playoff push, they'll have to do it without the services of their best player.
Seth Jones, who leads the club in minutes, will miss 8-10 weeks after undergoing surgery on his right ankle, which he fractured in a 2-1 loss to the Colorado Avalanche Saturday night, the team announced Tuesday.
According to Blue Jackets general manager Jarmo Kekalainen, the surgery to correct a hariline fracture was performed by former Ohio State linebacker Dr. Greg Bellisari and Dr. Scott Van Aman at Orthopedic One in Columbus.
Here's another look at the play that sent Jones to the locker room. #CBJ pic.twitter.com/mh2GnAmu4y
— 1st Ohio Battery (@1stOhioBattery) February 9, 2020
Incredibly, Jones returned from the fractured ankle he suffered in the first period against the Colorado Avalanche to play 19 more minutes, scoring a goal in the second period.
Hurt? Yep.
— 1st Ohio Battery (@1stOhioBattery) February 9, 2020
Hurt enough not to drop bombs on the Avs? Nope
Seth Jones, folks. #CBJ pic.twitter.com/Q4tJNQM7gV
Jones, who played in his third All-Star Game last month, has six goals and 24 assists and a +10 rating in 56 games for the Blue Jackets this season. Although he's shown to be a quick healer in the past, the prognosis of 8-10 weeks on the mend would effectively put Jones out for the rest of the regular season.
"You can't replace a guy like Seth Jones but at this time of the year you have to step up a little bit," defenseman Zach Werenski said. "That's a big piece we're missing but I don't think it changes much in terms of how we play as a team and doing, doing what we do well."
The Blue Jackets currently hold the Eastern Conference's first wild-card spot with 70 points and 25 games remaining in their regular season. The Jackets are back in action Thursday night when they head to Buffalo to face the Sabres.
