ST. PAUL, Minn. — The medical news was unexpectedly bad for Max Jones and the Ducks on Friday, when they learned the forward would be sidelined for between four and six months after tearing a pectoral tendon on Monday during a victory over the Calgary Flames. He is scheduled for surgery Wednesday.
If all goes well, Jones could be back in the lineup shortly after the NHL’s three-week break for the All-Star Game and the Beijing Olympics in February. He was injured during an innocent-looking net-front battle with Flames defenseman Rasmus Andersson and headed directly for the dressing room.
“Been struggling with the news and I want to say thank you to all the fans for your support,” Jones wrote on Twitter after learning of the extent of his injury. “It has made me feel a lot better mentally reading all your messages. Road to recovery starts now. Thank you Ducks fans.”
Jones, 23, was scoreless in two games this season, but his physical play and willingness to battle for loose pucks along the boards and fight for position in front of opposing goaltenders will be missed while he is sidelined. He also is one of the Ducks’ top penalty killers.
In 2020-21, Jones had seven goals and 11 points in 46 games during the pandemic-altered season, one goal and one point shy of his career bests, set while playing 59 games in 2019-20.
“It’s a tough blow for Max as he made strides last season and was heading in the right direction this year as well,” Ducks general manager Bob Murray said in a statement. “We hope to have him back this year and at full strength.”
Jones flipped from left wing to right wing to start the season, skating on the Ducks’ top line with left wing Max Comtois and center Ryan Getzlaf for their game Oct. 15 against the Minnesota Wild. He then shifted from the top line to the fourth line for Monday’s game against Calgary.
It wasn’t immediately clear how Ducks coach Dallas Eakins would replace Jones for the long term. Derek Grant filled Jones’ spot on the fourth line the past two games, joining right wing Nicolas Deslauriers and rookie center Bo Groulx, a likely union for Saturday’s game against the Wild.
“It’s just heartbreaking,” Eakins said of Jones’ injury. “It’s tough for the team. It’s tougher for the individual. He plays hard. He competes. There’s always somebody on the other team taking offense to how he’s playing. I just feel for him. He’s on track for an exciting season.”
Said Comtois: “You never want to lose a player like that. He’s playing with emotion, with passion. He brings a lot of energy to our team. It really sucks, honestly. When you go to the rink, you always know what to expect. He’s always going 100 percent. He’s in the other team’s faces.
“Hopefully, he can get back soon.”
WORK IN PROGRESS
The Ducks spent much of Friday’s practice at Xcel Energy Center working on their transition game, moving the puck up the ice quicker and more efficiently. They had reverted to a slower-paced game during losses to the Edmonton Oilers on Tuesday and to the Winnipeg Jets on Thursday.
“We went back to our slow transition game,” Eakins said of the Ducks’ slow-tempo play the past two games, but especially during a 5-1 loss to the Jets. “It leads to turnovers and to scoring chances against us. We want to try not to revert to old habits.”
ELITE COMPANY
Kevin Shattenkirk has three goals and three assists during a five-game point streak to start the season, the longest by a Ducks defenseman in team history. If he records a goal or an assist against the Wild on Saturday, it would be the 37th time in NHL history that a defenseman has had a six-game streak to start a season.
Bobby Orr did it three times during his Hall of Fame career.
MCTAVISH UPDATE
Rookie forward Mason McTavish, the third overall pick in the draft in July, skated with his teammates after suffering an unspecified lower-body injury on Monday against the Flames. He could be activated from injured reserve in time for Tuesday’s game against Winnipeg at Honda Center.