MinuteMan: Hawks know they risk gassing Jones if he plays too much

For an NHL coach, there's nothing better than a minute-munching defenseman.

During their recent glory days, the Blackhawks were fortunate to have a couple of these stalwarts in Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook. The future Hall of Famers shut down the opponent's best players on a nightly basis, and had perhaps their finest moments during the Hawks' 2015 Stanley Cup title run when they saw dizzying amounts of ice time.

While not quite at Keith or Seabrook's level, Seth Jones has had his minute-munching moments during this young season and been a reliable blue-liner for coach Luke Richardson.

Jones is averaging 25 minutes, 56 seconds of ice time - third-highest in the NHL behind only Los Angeles' Drew Doughty (26:16) and Washington's John Carlson (26:13).

Last week, Jones played an eye-opening 31:46 in a 5-3 victory at Tampa Bay. It was just the ninth time in his 10-year career he eclipsed the 30-minute mark in the regular season - and the third time in a game that didn't go overtime. (He did play an almost unfathomable 65:06 during Columbus' 5-overtime loss to Tampa Bay in the 2020 playoffs.)

"I feel it more than I used to," the 29-year-old Jones admitted. "You're taking more hits than you are in a 25-minute game. It's about taking care of your body the day after. I had some time to unwind and relax. Hydrating is the main thing."

Jones is in the second year of an eight-year, $76 million deal he signed after coming to the Hawks in a trade with the Blue Jackets. While far from perfect during two-plus seasons in Chicago, Jones did pile up 12 goals in 2022-23 and he's done a solid job this season while helping the Hawks get off to a respectable 5-8-0 start while facing one of the league's toughest schedules.

Relying on a D-man to this extent is both a blessing and a curse for coaches.

The last game - a 4-3 setback to Florida on Sunday - is a good example. Late in the second period, Jones played a big part in killing off a nearly four-minute Panthers power play. Jones could have used a break, but he was right back out there when Florida took a penalty with 1:26 remaining.

"It is great (to rely on him), but it does have its effects," Richardson said. "He's out there quite a bit (on the PK) and did a great job. But then we get a power play right after and he's tired. So it shows."

That nearly 32-minute effort in Tampa was necessary because the Hawks were down to five D-men after Jarred Tinordi was injured late in the first period.

"When you play 30 minutes, you've really got to manage your ice time," Jones said. "You can't play the way you want to play, jumping in the play every shift and being as aggressive as you want to be.

"Murph (Connor Murphy) did a great job (against the Lightning). Even the young guys stepped up and played a bigger role than what they're used to. That was a big win."

Richardson knows he can push Jones once in a while, but doing so too often will have a cumulative effect.

The Hawks have been fortunate to have multiple days off after many contests, but an extremely busy stretch begins Thursday when they play 16 games in 32 days.

"Games that hopefully we're in more control, we have to be really smart and not overplay him and have trust in our other guys," Richardson said. "That's the message to everybody (so) we don't have to overextend guys. Play properly for 60 minutes."

Richardson pointed to a 5-2 victory over the Panthers at the United Center on November 4 as a good example. The Hawks led 4-0 early in the second period, but allowed Florida to stick around and cut the lead to 4-2 midway in the third period.

"We can't take the foot off the pedal in this league," Richardson said, "because then it puts us under pressure to maybe extend a guy like that (when) we don't really need to.

"If we're responsible, then the coach (can) trust everybody to play. But if you lose that trust, we're cutting some people short, (so they're) not happy and then we're playing people too much.

"So it's something we all have to be aware of."

Injury update:

Taylor Hall skated before practice Monday, and coach Luke Richardson is hoping the forward can return to practice Wednesday then play against Tampa Bay on Thursday.

Meanwhile, Andreas Athanasiou (lower body) is considered week to week and may have to go on injured reserve.

By the numbers

Highest average time on ice this season:

Player, team ATOI

1. Drew Doughty, Kings 26:16

2. John Carlson, Caps 26:13

3. Seth Jones, HAWKS 25:56

4. T. Sanheim, Flyers 25:53

5. Miro Heiskanen, Stars 25:11

<b>Put me in, coach</b>Seth Jones' highest time on ice games in regular season:

Date ATOI

1. January 22, 2022 32:05*

2. April 1, 2022 31:58

2. February 23, 2021 31:58*

4. November 9, 2023 31:46

5. November 9, 2021 31:24

6. November 30, 2013 30:46*

7. October 31, 2013 30:19*

8. November 4, 2018 30:14*

9. December 27, 2017 30:08*

* Denotes overtime