FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: JANUARY 10, 2018
BLUE JACKETS DEFENSEMAN SETH JONES SELECTED TO PARTICIPATE IN 2018 HONDA NHL ALL-STAR GAME® Jones will make second-straight All-Star Game appearance on Sunday, January 28 at Tampa’s Amalie Arena
COLUMBUS, OHIO - Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Seth Jones was among 40 players selected to participate in the 2018 Honda NHL All-Star Game® at Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida on Sunday, January 28, the League and club announced today.
Jones, 23, has collected seven goals and 21 assists for 28 points with 16 penalty minutes and a +2 plus/minus rating in 44 games this season. He leads all club defensemen and is second overall in points. Among NHL defensemen, he is tied for eighth in goals and 11th in points. He also leads the Blue Jackets in time on ice, averaging 24:38 per game, which ranks 18th in the League. The Arlington, Texas native will be making his second consecutive All-Star Game appearance. Last year, he scored two goals and was +4 in two games for the Metropolitan Division team.
Jones was the first pick, fourth overall, of the Nashville Predators in the 2013 NHL Draft. He was acquired by Columbus in exchange for center Ryan Johansen on Jan. 6, 2016 and has registered 36-117-153 and 106 penalty minutes in 359 career games, including 21-69-90 and 52 penalty minutes in 160 games with the Blue Jackets. In 2016-17, he tallied 12- 30-42 and 24 penalty minutes in 75 games, tying the club single season record for goals by a defenseman (Bryan Berard, 2005-06).
Previous Blue Jackets selected to participate in the NHL All-Star Game include: right wing Cam Atkinson (2017), goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky (2017), left wing Brandon Saad (2016), right wing Nick Foligno (2015, team captain), center Ryan Johansen (2015, voted game’s Most Valuable Player), Bobrovsky (2015, missed game due to injury), left wing Rick Nash (2004, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011), left wing Ray Whitney (2003) and center Espen Knutsen (2002).
The 40 All-Stars selected by the NHL today join the first four players voted by fans to serve as division captains: Alexander Ovechkin, Washington (Metropolitan); Steven Stamkos, Tampa Bay (Atlantic Division); P.K. Subban, Nashville (Central); and Connor McDavid, Edmonton (Pacific). The All-Stars will take part in a three-game tournament, played in a 3-on-3 format, and featuring four teams representing each NHL division. Each division's roster consists of six forwards, three defensemen and two goalies. The Atlantic Division will face the Metropolitan Division in one semifinal and the Central Division will face the Pacific Division in the other semifinal. The winners play in the championship game. Games will be 20 minutes in length and will be decided by a shootout if tied after the 20 minutes.
Live television coverage of the League’s midseason showcase includes the 2018 NHL All-Star Skills Competition, which will be broadcast live by NBCSN in the U.S. on Saturday, January 27 at 7 p.m. ET. The 2018 Honda NHL All-Star Game® will be televised live on NBC in the U.S. at 3:30 p.m. ET on Sunday, January 28.
The Blue Jackets return to action Thursday when they visit the Buffalo Sabres. Game time from KeyBank Center is 7 p.m. ET. Live coverage on FOX Sports Ohio begins with the Blue Jackets Live pre-game show starting at 6:30 p.m. All Blue Jackets games televised on FOX Sports Ohio will also be streamed live via FOX Sports GO. The game may also be heard on the Eldorado Scioto Downs Blue Jackets Radio Network, including CD102.5 FM in Columbus and online at BlueJackets.com.
‐ CBJ ‐
Contacts: Todd Sharrock, Vice President of Communications & Team Services – 614/246‐4157 or [email protected] Glenn Odebralski, Manager of Communications – 614/246‐0288 or [email protected]
Tickets for all home games are currently available for purchase online at BlueJackets.com, Ticketmaster.com, or in person at the Big Lots Box Office at Nationwide Arena, OhioHealth Chiller Ice Rinks and the FOX Sports Ohio Blue Line at The Mall at Tuttle Crossing. Fans may purchase tickets by phone at (800) 745‐3000.