Blackhawks confirm Seth Jones' time in Chicago is over as they strip his captaincy letter
The Chicago Blackhawks went into their game against the contending Tampa Bay Lightning without a few players on Friday, including Seth Jones and Taylor Hall.
Hall, was scratched 10-minutes before puck drop, and would later be dealt in a blockbuster 3-way trade, that truly shocked everybody; being deemed as the biggest deal of the century in the NHL.
Jones, was also scratched with Taylor Hall, raising suspicions about the blueliner being dealt away as well. But the Blackhawks revealed Jones was out with a 'sickness', many believe that is a cover up and he was truly held out for precautionary trade reasons.
Blackhawks name new captain with Seth Jones' mysterious absence
With Jones being out, the Blackhawks ripped the 'A' off his jersey sitting in the locker room and announced another player will don it. While he's on the trade block, it appears his time in Chicago is over.
Defenseman Alec Martinez was granted the 'A' on his chest, and he stepped up by contributing a significant amount of ice time in Jones' absence.
Sadly for Martinez, the wear and tear of his 800 plus NHL games caught up, when the Blackhawks were up a goal in the final minutes of the 3rd period, he took a penalty, where the Lightning would end up tying it on the powerplay.
In overtime, Tampa Bay's star-studded duo of Victor Hedman and Nikita Kucherov took the ice and ended up just 58 seconds in, taking home for 4-3 win in historic fashion for Kucherov.
@TBLightning
comeback with the overtime winner and became the second player in franchise history with 100 career three-point games, joining Steven Stamkos (103).
Shared the NHLPR in a statement
On Chicago's side, the youth shined through with big goals from Colton Dach (1st NHL goal), Frank Nazar, and defenseman Louis Crevier. Goaltender Arvid Soderblom, with little support from his teammates, made 36-saves on the night.
Ethan Del Mastro made his season debut with the Blackhawks, logging 15:49 of ice time in the 4-3 loss Friday.
Despite the loss, this could be the end of an era for Jones in Chicago. The Blackhawks will now prepare for their game against the Minnesota Wild on Sunday, at 7:00 p.m CT.
