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.<\/p>\n
Jones is week to week, per Maurice.<\/p>\n
They expect him back before the Olympic break.<\/p>\n
\u2014 Jameson Olive (@JamesonCoop) January 5, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n Jones left Friday\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n 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\u2019 2-1 win over the Colorado Avalanche on Sunday.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n He was one of eight defencemen named to the USA Olympic roster on New Years Eve. He\u2019ll 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.<\/p>\n 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. <\/p>\n Tkachuk nearing return<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n \u201cEvery 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,\u201d Tkachuk told reporters Sunday<\/a>. \u201cWe\u2019ll have another few skates here and a couple calls and figure it out from there, but we\u2019re feeling pretty good right now.\u201d<\/p>\n Tkachuk returned to practice with the Panthers last week while wearing a yellow non-contact sweater.<\/p>\n Florida enters play Monday fourth in the Atlantic Division at 22-16-3 for 47 points in 41 games played.<\/p>\n