Seth Jones impresses in debut - Florida Panthers take down Tampa Bay Lightning

Seth Jones made an electrifying debut for the Florida Panthers, instantly proving why he was a key trade acquisition. While he impressed on the ice, the bigger question looms; when will star forward Matthew Tkachuk return to action? As the Panthers push forward without one of their biggest playmakers, Jones’ arrival couldn’t have come at a better time.


In his debut, Jones logged nearly 23 minutes of ice time and came close to netting a goal in the Panthers’ hard-fought 2-1 victory over their in-state rival, the Tampa Bay Lightning.
“He’s an unbelievable skater, a great guy,” said goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky, who made 28 saves to help extend Florida’s winning streak to four games. "Played well both sides of the puck. I'm excited to have him. He's a great addition to our team."
While Jones made an immediate impact, the Panthers confirmed earlier Monday that Tkachuk has been placed on long-term injured reserve due to a lower-body injury. That means Florida’s star forward will be sidelined for several weeks, possibly until the postseason.
"Matthew's going to be out for an extended period of time," Panthers general manager and president of hockey operations Bill Zito said at Jones’ introductory press conference. "We hope to get him back for the playoffs. You have a projection, you have a diagnosis and a rehab course of action. How and where and in what manner is the progress of that rehab is yet to be determined." (via: ESPN)

Tkachuk’s absence is a tough setback for the Panthers, but the addition of Jones, an elite defenseman acquired in a weekend trade with the Chicago Blackhawks, brings a much-needed boost.
"I wanted to play for a contender and Florida was obviously at the top of my list when it came to that," said Jones, who hasn't appeared in a playoff game since 2020. "I want to fit in with this team, be a part of the system, come and bring my game, play hard defensively, help a little bit offensively, really just fit into the system and bring what I can, whatever's asked of me."
Panthers fans embraced Jones before he even hit the ice, giving him a roaring ovation when he was introduced in the starting lineup at Amerant Bank Arena. The excitement only grew when he nearly scored in the second period.
Initially, the plan was to ease Jones into the lineup as he adjusted to a new system and conference. But in a heated matchup against a bitter rival, he found himself in key moments, particularly on special teams, helping Florida successfully kill off seven penalties.
“He’s going to be really good for us,” head coach Paul Maurice said. "Moves the puck clean, and he's got a set of hands on him. So I thought for flying in yesterday to get here, and then everything [being] brand new, mostly he's playing on instinct out there. ... I was really pleased."

"He still was amazing," Bobrovsky said. "And, you know, he was an amazing skater. He was smart. It was a privilege to play with him. And I'm so, so happy to reunite with him again."
The Panthers also made another move between the pipes. With Spencer Knight sent to Chicago in the Jones trade, Florida recalled veteran goaltender Chris Driedger from their AHL affiliate. The 30-year-old brings NHL experience, including 31 career wins, and now serves as Bobrovsky’s backup moving forward.
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