Seth Jones sends a clear message to Connor Bedard when asked about the Chicago Blackhawks
Photo credit: Screenshot
Florida Panthers' new defenseman Seth Jones sent a clear message to Connor Bedard and the Chicago Blackhawks in a recent interview.
It was a drastic change for Seth Jones to get traded from the Blackhawks to the Panthers after four years in Chicago. The 30-year-old defenseman left a struggling, developing team to join a team who looks likely to reach the Stanley Cup Finals for the third straight year.
Jones opened up about his new situation as well as the Blackhawks in a recent interview.
Seth Jones sends a message to Bedard and the Blackhawks
In a new environment, Jones is currently thriving. Since the playoffs started, the veteran has scored six points, including three goals, and played an important role in the Panthers' success, with a +8 rating.
One of the main explanations behind this is the pressure. In Chicago, he had to lead the team, while in Florida, his role isn't the same, with different expectations on his shoulders:
"My hair is growing back. It definitely feels like there's some pressure off [me] after the trade. In Chicago, I was just forcing things and trying to do too much - out of my realm, to be honest."
"It was always hopefully for the betterment of the team, in my opinion, [even though] it didn't always turn out that way or look that way. But here, I can just play my game."
"I'm extremely happy I've gotten this opportunity. This franchise believed in me. I wasn't playing the greatest hockey in Chicago, but I'm glad I came here and have the supporting group around me."
"It was always hopefully for the betterment of the team, in my opinion, [even though] it didn't always turn out that way or look that way. But here, I can just play my game."
"I'm extremely happy I've gotten this opportunity. This franchise believed in me. I wasn't playing the greatest hockey in Chicago, but I'm glad I came here and have the supporting group around me."
He later talked about the Blackhawks, sending a message to Bedard and the young players, saying they will become a great team, and the biggest difference with the Panthers is timing.
In Florida, core players are older and aren't learning the game so much as dominating it. They know and understand what they need to do to win at the highest level:
"Chicago is going to be a great team. They're young and learning how to play the game, and there's a lot of great guys in that locker room. It's just different timelines. It's a completely different situation here. You have a lot of guys that are 28, 30, or 32 years old who know how to win and understand how to win."
Jones and the Panthers are only one win away from becoming the Eastern Conference champions and clinching their ticket to the Stanley Cup Finals.
| POLL | ||
MAI 27 | 383 ANSWERS Seth Jones sends a clear message to Connor Bedard when asked about the Chicago Blackhawks Do you think Seth Jones and the Florida Panthers will win the Stanley Cup this season? | ||
| Yes | 192 | 50.1 % |
| No | 191 | 49.9 % |
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