This meant that Jones was available when the Nashville Predators and General Manager David Poille, the architect of Team USA, were up to pick at #4. Poille, said he was "shocked," that Jones available for them and most of the fans watching were as well.
Despite dropping out of the top 3, I really feel that this is the best case scenario for Jones. Nashville is a classy organization which has done an excellent job at developing top end defenisive prospects (see Shea Weber, Ryan Suter et. al.) that they have drafted. Jone sis definitely in good hands and will have an opportunity to compete year in and year out. The same cannot be said for Tampa or Florida, that's for sure.
Also, this is the one team picking in the top 4, which has made prospects wait a bit before making the leap to the NHL. So, it makes it somewhat possible that Seth could come back to Portland for one more year. Not likely, but possible.
Outside of Jones, the other 3 Winterhawks were picked around where they were expected to go:
-Winnipeg picked Nic Petan in the 2nd round with the 43rd overall pick.
-Columbus picked Oliver Bjorkstrand in the 3rd round with the 89th overall pick.
-Phoenix Coyotes picked Brandon Burke in the 6th round with the 163rd overall pick.
It should be a surpise to no one that Phoenix picked Burke as his Dad (Sean Burke) is the Goaltending Coach and the Assistant to the G.M. ( Don Maloney). Maybe with his Dad's team having the rights to him, Burke Sr. will be able to give his expert tutelage to his son and make him more confident in his net (something he sorely needs).
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