Seth Jones, the veteran defenseman for the Chicago Blackhawks, is adapting his shooting style by using a more flexible stick. Jones, who is entering his 11th NHL season and recently celebrated his 29th birthday, believes that a more flexible stick will improve his shooting performance.
Throughout his career, Jones has made adjustments to his stick flex. Two years ago, he switched from a 100-flex stick to a 95-flex, and this summer, he moved down to a 90-flex. According to Jones, a more flexible stick provides a whip and pop effect, allowing for quicker shots with less energy exertion.
Jones is known for studying league-wide trends and has noticed a shift among defensemen towards using wrist shots more often. He has followed suit and decreased his reliance on slap shots. In his time with the Columbus Blue Jackets from 2016-17 to 2021, 29.2% of his shots on goal came from slap shots. However, in the 2021-22 season with the Blackhawks, that percentage dropped to 21.1%, and last season it fell further to 17.4%. Jones recognizes the declining use of big bombs from the point and understands the importance of making the most of shots during five-on-five play.
Jones has been reviewing his performance from last season, particularly in the offensive zone, in preparation for the upcoming season. He has received feedback from Blackhawks skills consultant Brian Keane and his personal skills coaches. Through this review process, Jones has realized that he often had more time and space than he realized when operating between the faceoff circles and the blue line. He plans to be more patient in those situations and explore new moves to improve his offensive contributions.
In terms of his training routine, Jones has followed his typical regimen since June, which involves skating four times per week. However, this summer has been different as his brother and workout partner, Caleb, has been training alongside him to prepare for Hurricanes camp. Seth expressed displeasure with the Blackhawks’ decision not to re-sign Caleb, but he understands the organization’s desire to give young defensemen an opportunity.
Despite the frustrations and challenges of the Blackhawks’ rebuilding phase, Jones remains optimistic about the team’s future. He believes there is a lot of potential in the young defensemen coming up through the organization, such as Alex Vlasic, Isaak Phillips, and Wyatt Kaiser. Jones acknowledges that rebuilding takes time and that he hopes the process won’t be too lengthy, considering his age.
Heading into the new season, Jones aims to improve his assist totals and vision in the offensive zone while maintaining his strong scoring ability. He recently reunited with former teammate Nick Foligno, who became a close friend during their time together in Columbus. Jones is also looking forward to experiencing the new atmosphere at the United Center with the arrival of top draft pick Connor Bedard.
In conclusion, Seth Jones has made adjustments to his shooting style by using a more flexible stick. As he enters his 11th NHL season, Jones is focused on improving his offensive contributions, reviewing his performance from last season, and mentoring younger players on the Blackhawks’ roster. Despite the challenges of the team’s rebuilding phase, Jones remains optimistic about the future and is dedicated to helping the team succeed.
