Blue Jackets defenseman Seth Jones inserting himself into tight Norris Trophy race

Kevin Allen | USA TODAY

Columbus Blue Jackets general manager Jarmo Kekalainen realized recently that he can’t recall the last time he saw defenseman Seth Jones get beat one-on-one.

“It just doesn’t happen,” Kekalainen told USA TODAY Sports. “I would probably have to go to the video coach and ask him to find some time when he got beat. He can always recover to get back in the play with his skating. He’s so hard to play against with his reach and mobility.”

With seven goals and six assists for 13 points in his last 12 games, Jones is one of the primary reasons why the Blue Jackets are 9-1-0 in their past 10 games and still holding a playoff spot in the tightly contested Metropolitan Division race.

The 6-4 blueliner, the son of former NBA player Popeye Jones, is also plus-9 over those 12 games, further strengthening his Norris Trophy candidacy.

John Tortorella seems to have been the right coach for Jones, whose effectiveness has improved all three seasons under Tortorella’s tough-love approach.

Kekalainen remembers early in Jones' tenure in Columbus that Tortorella rode Jones hard about the need to start the game strong.

“There was one game when he benched him for most of the second period,” Kekalainen said. “And he was a totally different guy after that in terms of how he started a game and how he prepared. He takes what John tells him to heart.”

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In early March, Jones wasn’t even listed among the top 10 Norris Trophy candidates by Bovada oddsmakers. The Tampa Bay Lightning's Victor Hedman was the favorite at 4/1.

Here are five reasons why he deserves to be in the conversation for what could be a tight Norris race:

Full-service player: With 15 goals, 50 points, size, skating and a rugged defensive presence, Jones is the prototype of the modern two-way defenseman.

Improved Corsi: Corsi is considered an indication of puck possession, and his Corsi has improved to 55.4% (according to hockey-reference.com). He had posted Corsi percentages of 50.6% last season and 50.4% the season before.

Respect around the NHL: If the NHL would have allowed its players to compete in the recent Olympics, Jones would have been the USA’s No. 1 defenseman. At 23, he holds that distinction because he can be dominant in multiple areas.

Expanded leadership: Kekalainen said Jones works at every aspect of his game, including being a more polished leader.

“He’s starting to realize he’s a leader on the ice and should be a leader off the way with what he says and how he carries himself,” Kekalainen said.

Improving daily: He has been growing into a greater force on the ice every day.

“He’s just scratching the surface of his potential,” Kekalainen said. “There are so many areas he can get better. When you look at the age when defensemen reach their prime, he’s not even near there yet. That’s what I’m most excited about.”