Seth Jones proving why he's one of Florida's most valuable player

While headline attention often drifts toward scorers, Jones has been doing the heavy lifting that drives wins. Paul Maurice didn't mince words this week, saying people don't fully appreciate how well Jones is playing. For a coach who values detail over flash, that praise carries weight.

Through 35 games, Jones has 20 points, five goals and 15 assists, leading all Panthers defensemen. At 31, he's logging 24 minutes a night, more than any skater on the roster, and shouldering matchups against top lines while still contributing offensively.

The underlying numbers strengthen the argument. Florida controls over 52 percent of shot attempts with Jones on the ice at five on five. He's a key piece on a penalty kill sitting near the top third of the league.

Here's the fan reality, Jones looks comfortable again. After years grinding through a rebuild in Chicago, he landed with a championship team and immediately found his game. When Aaron Ekblad was suspended last spring, Jones was thrust into a massive role without easing in. Instead, he flourished.

That carried into the playoffs, where he averaged over 25 minutes a night, scored nine points, and helped Florida repeat as Stanley Cup champions. Maurice says Jones has picked up right where he left off, bringing playoff-level intensity into the regular season.

Physically, he checks every box. At 6-foot-4 and over 210 pounds, he skates effortlessly and closes gaps quickly. Against Carolina last week, he logged nearly 31 minutes and covered more than four and a half miles, a season high. That's workload you don't hand out lightly.

The Olympic conversation feels natural. The United States is loaded with power-play quarterbacks but thinner on shutdown, right-shot defensemen who can handle heavy minutes. Jones fits that profile perfectly. He's already on the radar, having attended Olympic orientation camp, and Florida GM Bill Zito sits within the U.S. management group.

Jones himself isn't lobbying. He says he's focused on his game and letting the rest take care of itself. That approach mirrors how he's played all season, steady, assertive, and reliable.

If Olympic rosters are truly about roles, Jones is making his case every night.