Ht/Wt: 6' 4"/205 lbs
Position: D
Team: Portland (WHL)

Seth Jones's Player Profile

If Seth Jones has a weakness in his game, I do not see it. He is a special defense prospect, and as I outlined in the previous section, he nearly made me break my tendency of preferring an elite forward to a defenseman. Jones is a high-end (arguably an elite) skater, who moves at a unique and unusual level for such a large man. With his very large wingspan and mobility, Jones closes gaps with high efficiency, and he can be difficult to get around. His best trait is his clearly elite hockey sense. Jones was making pro-level reads when he was 16, showing he was, and still is, advanced way beyond his years. He makes a multitude of good defensive plays with positioning, stick work and anticipation. He seems to always to be a step ahead of everyone else. This is evident in his offensive ability as well. He knows when to pinch, and he can exhibit high levels of offensive skill, creativity and vision. Jones has a cannon from the point, which can make him a very dangerous player on the power play. He is a big man with a ton of weapons. Finally, his size is a tremendous asset. He stands around 6'4'', and while he isn't a mean player, he takes his checks with the body. He projects as a top-end physical player.
Submitted by: Corey Pronman of Hockey Prospectus. Click here for Pronman's draft rankings

“On a lot of lists, he’s the number-one prospect. He’s a very good player and you see the comparisons to Nicklas Lidstrom or Chris Pronger, but I don’t think those are even close. Pronger is much more vicious and much harder to play against than Seth, and Lidstrom’s hockey sense was at a level that not too many, or maybe even none, have ever played at. Seth is an easy skater and he’s a big right-handed shot defenseman. He can play a lot of minutes, he can lug the puck out of his zone and take it end to end, he can make plays, make quick passes or hit guys at the far blue line or run the power play. He’s both a shooter and a playmaker. He’s a very skilled player and he’s going to be a terrific addition to any team.”

Caveat: “He needs some work at his own end, as far as his defensive positioning and his commitment defensively.”

Comparable NHL Player: Alex Pietrangelo

Scouting report from Lightning director of amateur scouting Al Murray on Lightning.NHL.com - May 16th 2013

Seth Jones made headwaves during the Summer of 2012 as the former US U18 Captain deliberated between the NCAA and the WHL. After his rights were dealt from Everett to Portland, everything was set in motion for the 6-foot-4 defenseman to make the jump to Major Junior.

It didn't take long for Jones to impose his will on a new league. An excellent skater especially for his size. Jones is a rare combination of athleticism and skill. More than capable of playing in the NHL next year, Jones will be a quality transition defenseman with Top 4 capabilities from Day 1. A strong slap shot and good hockey sense will allow him to also see powerplay minutes early in his career.
Submitted by: The Scouting Report

Seth Jones, son of former NBA player Popeye Jones is a beast of a player. Jacob Trouba, a former 1st round pick and former team mate calls Seth a ONE MAN BREAKOUT. Jone's is a very good prospect with a very good skill set. He skates very well and his first pass is excellent, he thinks the game at a high level and makes the game easy.

At 6'3", he is already 200 lbs and projects to be a very imposing presence as a first pairing defenseman. Think Chris Pronger and then stop thinking. He will be your shutdown D-man, number one penalty killer, powerplay QB and team captain. You let him play 30 minutes a game and build your team around him.
Submitted by: Robert Urner

He is one of the most herald prospects for the 2013 NHL Entry Draft along with Nathan McKinnon (CAN) and Sean Monahan (CAN). The son of a former NBAer, the basketball gene was surely passed on as Jones is NHL-size with the skill. He can move well on the skates and he can move the puck quickly too as he is a fluid passer and can let the bomb go from the point every now and then. If anything he could be a little meaner and look to contribute a bit more on the score sheet. Overall, his game is quiet steady in all three zones. If he is not named to the WJC team, pretty much everybody in the hockey world will have a seizer.
Submitted by: Russ Bitely from the USA Hockey National Junior Evaluation Camp – U20 Team USA – Lake Placid, NY – August 4th-11th

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ISS Top 30#2 Seth Jones @seth_jones04Smooth adjust to WHL. Tremendous poise w/puck. Extremely high hockey IQ. Efficient effortless skater.

— ISS Hockey (@ISShockey) December 13, 2012

Seth Jones Videos

2013 Top prospect Seth Jones

Seth Jones Highlights


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