Damaging news delivered to Ex-Blackhawk Seth Jones ahead of the upcoming Olympics

Seth Jones and the Florida Panthers just got hit with an Olympic-sized upper-body injury scare.

The trade between the Blackhawks and Panthers for Spencer Knight and Seth Jones appeared even-sided by some critics, but this all but confirms general manager Kyle Davidson's coming out on top.

The ex-Chicago Blackhawks defenseman took a scary puck near the left collarbone early in Friday's Winter Classic and never returned.

Florida coach Paul Maurice called him week to week, saying it should be a couple weeks and not months.

The timing is brutal because Jones was named to the United States roster for Milano Cortina 2026 on Friday. NHL players are heading back to the Olympics for the first time since 2014, and the stakes feel bigger this time around.

Maurice said the Panthers expect Jones back before the league pauses from Feb. 6 to 24 for the Games.

Florida's last matchup before that break is Feb. 5 at the Tampa Bay Lightning, so that date becomes the unofficial target.

Jones has been a real engine for Florida, with 24 points in 40 games this season, including six goals and 18 assists.

He hit 900 career games on Friday, sitting at 465 points, and his first NHL ticket was Nashville taking him fourth in the 2013 draft.

A year ago in Chicago, he admitted his play declined greatly, then the March 1, 2025, the Blackhawks traded him to Florida gave him a reset button.

Now he is a Cup winner again, and Team USA rewarded that bounce-back by calling his number.

The play itself was freaky; a deflected shot rode up high and caught him in the neck and shoulder area. Florida's staff treated it like something you do not mess around with, even if the injury is labeled upper body.

The contract context matters too; Jones is on an eight-year, $76 million deal that carries a $9.5 million cap hit. Chicago retained $2.5 million when it moved him, leaving Florida with a $7 million charge while it waits for him to heal.

For Jones, the goal is boring and simple, get healthy and be ready well before Milano Cortina opens.