Blackhawks activate defenseman Caleb Jones from long-term injured reserve

According to PuckPedia, the Chicago Blackhawks activated defenseman Caleb Jones from long-term injured reserve Wednesday, adding him and his $850,000 cap hit back to the active roster.

The Blackhawks originally placed Jones on LTIR retroactive to October 6, 2021, when he suffered a wrist injury during training camp. His return is in line with his expected recovery time of six weeks.

Chicago acquired Jones as part of the return for longtime Blackhawks defenseman Duncan Keith in one of the most talked-about trades of the summer. Caleb, the younger brother of offseason acquisition Seth Jones, is a strong candidate to push Riley Stillman out of the lineup in order to make his Blackhawks debut.

Isaak Phillips, 20, has averaged just 10:51 through three games this season as will likely be sent down to the AHL’s Rockford IceHogs to accommodate Jones as he doesn’t require waivers.

Originally a fourth-round pick of the Edmonton Oilers, Jones is only seven contests short of hitting the century mark in games played. Through 93 games across the past three seasons, all with Edmonton, the 24-year-old has five goals and 14 assists for 19 points.

Jones is in the final season of a two-year, $1.7M contract extension he signed with the Oilers on January 15, 2020.