Florida Panthers defenceman Seth Jones is out week-to-week and the team is hoping he can return before the Olympic break, head coach Paul Maurice told reporters Monday morning via team reporter Jameson Olive.
Jones is week to week, per Maurice.
They expect him back before the Olympic break.
— Jameson Olive (@JamesonCoop) January 5, 2026
Jones left Friday’s Winter Classic matchup against the New York Rangers in the opening period after taking a puck up high in the neck area and did not return.
He played 3:00 over the course of three shifts before departing as Florida went on to lose 5-1. Jones did not play in the Panthers’ 2-1 win over the Colorado Avalanche on Sunday.
The 31-year-old has six goals and 24 points in 40 games so far this season while averaging 23:29 of ice time per game.
He was one of eight defencemen named to the USA Olympic roster on New Years Eve. He’ll also be joined by Panthers teammate Matthew Tkachuk in Milano-Cortina, who has yet to play this season due to off-season surgery that repaired a torn adductor and sports hernia.
A native of Arlington, Texas, Jones is in his 13th NHL season and has played with the Nashville Predators, Columbus Blue Jackets and Chicago Blackhawks prior to a deal in March of last year that sent him to Florida.
Tkachuk nearing return
Tkachuk is with the Panthers on their current road trip and there is a chance he plays before the club returns home, Maurice said Monday.
“Every box that has had to be checked so far has been and I guess the last one before playing is taking off the no-contact jersey,” Tkachuk told reporters Sunday. “We’ll have another few skates here and a couple calls and figure it out from there, but we’re feeling pretty good right now.”
Tkachuk returned to practice with the Panthers last week while wearing a yellow non-contact sweater.
Florida enters play Monday fourth in the Atlantic Division at 22-16-3 for 47 points in 41 games played.