Fans reject Seth Jones: Is the Blackhawks defenseman undervalued in the NHL?
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Fans sound Off: Ranking the NHL's top defensemen.
In a summer devoid of icy showdowns, hockey enthusiasts keep the spirit alive through polls and heated debates, carving fresh niches in the fandom landscape.
In the latest flare-up from the world of hockey analytics, controversial Twitter personality and statistician JFresh launched a fiery discussion by asking fans to rate the NHL's best defensemen.
The usual elites like Cale Makar, Quinn Hughes, Roman Josi, and Adam Fox dominated the top spots, while Chicago Blackhawks' Seth Jones found himself further down the list, ranked 53rd.
« The public made up its mind about Seth Jones in 2021 & nothing is gonna change it, outside of him winning a Norris.
If you watched the #Blackhawks with & without him over the last 2 seasons (I don't blame you if you haven't), he's much better than the 53rd defenseman in the NHL. »
If you watched the #Blackhawks with & without him over the last 2 seasons (I don't blame you if you haven't), he's much better than the 53rd defenseman in the NHL. »
This ranking sparked debates about 'recency bias'�a tendency to favor recent performances over historical data.
Despite not shining at the very top, Jones displayed considerable prowess in the latter part of the 2023-2024 season, reminiscent of his standout days in Columbus.
Critics argue that while Jones may not have clinched the title of the best defenseman, his contribution has been pivotal in nurturing Alex Vlasic, a rising star in the Blackhawks' roster.
Jones's influence extends beyond his gameplay; his leadership qualities have made a significant impact within the team.
When in form, he's touted as one of the league's top hardnosed defensemen with a knack for offensive play.
The low ratings of other players like Matt Roy, Filip Hronek, and Thomas Harley have also raised eyebrows, suggesting that some poll participants might not fully appreciate the intricacies of the game.
Echoing this sentiment, Blackhawks coach Richardson highlighted Jones's recent performance improvements:
«I think he's doing much of what he did in the second half last year in the second half of this year�he's calmed down, his forcing the plays he's coming up the weak side as a weak side defenseman a lot to join the plays that way�I think he's shooting the puck a lot more and harder�which is showing in his stats and it's helping us all offensively,» Richardson said. «I think he's confident, he's always pretty quiet and calm, a lead by example type of guy. You can tell when he's a little more at ease�I think that lets him see the game better and that's probably why he's in better position. He's not running around putting fires out all over the place because he's up and down the ice every shift. I think he's just playing his position and when it's there, he has the ability to get up the ice offensively and I just like his mindset right now.»
As debates continue to swirl, it's clear that the off-season is anything but dull for hockey fans.
With discussions like these, the community remains vibrant, awaiting the return of live action to arenas across the league.
Source: Chicago Hockey Now
Blackhawks Bottom Line: Seth Jones Strong Second Half Shows the Value He Can Bring
Blackhawks Bottom Line: Seth Jones Strong Second Half Shows the Value He Can Bring
| POLL | ||
11 JUILLET | 69 ANSWERS Fans reject Seth Jones: Is the Blackhawks defenseman undervalued in the NHL? Is Seth Jones overrated or underrated? | ||
| Underrated | 20 | 29 % |
| Overrated | 41 | 59.4 % |
| My bias against his cap hit is showing | 8 | 11.6 % |
| LIST OF POLLS | ||
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