Caleb Jones, 'Seth's little brother,' seeks own hockey legacy

Amy Jones remembers finding schoolwork written by her youngest son, Caleb, in which he detailed how much he admired older brother Seth, a soon-to-be first-round NHL draft pick.

That sort of brotherly adulation was and still is understandable. Caleb Jones recently wore No. 3 as a defenseman for the U.S. National Under-18 Team, the same number Seth Jones wears in the same position for the Predators. Caleb Jones will continue his playing career with Seth Jones' former junior club, the WHL's Portland Winterhawks, and will live with the same billet family in Oregon as his older brother.

"Seth's experiences definitely have guided the way," Caleb Jones said. "I made decisions based on my own career and what I thought was best for my development."

But where they differ is in their immediate expectations. Seth Jones was billed as a sure-thing prospect, ranked as the No. 1 North American skater by NHL Central Scouting and chosen fourth overall by Nashville two years ago. To find Caleb Jones on that same list this year requires scrolling down to No. 115, with the draft starting June 26 in Sunrise, Fla.

"Seth's path is not normal," Amy Jones said. "You can count them on one hand the kids that have that sort of experience. And that's just not the normal path for most kids, so (Caleb) understands that.

"I do definitely think it's an added motivation for him. ... You never want your kids to be disappointed or expect things that are not realistic, probably. I hope I've done a good job with that and at the same time, I think it's a healthy competition and it's really good for Caleb."

Seth Jones understands his brother's situation. As his profile rose, Seth Jones faced countless questions about his father, former NBA player Popeye Jones, and how he would live up to those lofty professional expectations.

"He definitely wants to be his own player, his own person," Seth Jones said. "He gets a little frustrated. ... He definitely doesn't want to be in the shadow of me or anyone else."

Both pride themselves on playing two-way hockey, handling their defensive responsibilities while also getting involved offensively. Seth Jones believes that Caleb Jones "could be a lot more physical than I could be," seeking out contact whenever possible. Caleb Jones chalks that up to Seth Jones' four-inch height advantage, which allows him to use his longer reach to defend effectively.

"Every part of his game, I have," Caleb Jones said.

Caleb Jones will be at the NHL draft next week, remembering the example that Seth Jones set and his advice to savor the experience but not dwell on it. Caleb Jones will wait until his name is called, an announcement that will carry more significance than simply knowing where he may ultimately play.

"I would think sometimes it's frustrating to be known as 'Seth's little brother,' for sure," Caleb Jones said. "My name is Caleb Jones. I am Seth's little brother, but I'm Caleb and I think I'm going to make my own legacy in hockey. Eventually, I want people to just know me as Caleb and not 'Seth's little brother.' "

Reach Adam Vingan at 615-259-8023 and on Twitter @AdamVingan.