Elias Lindholm and Nikita Zadorov were the two biggest signings for the Boston Bruins when free agency opened on Monday, but they weren’t the only ones.
Max Jones signed a two-year, $2 million contract with the Bruins on Monday, after spending the first six years of his career with the Anaheim Ducks, which drafted him with the 24th overall pick in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft.
The 26-year-old forward will come in to play a bottom-six role. However, according to Bruins general manager Don Sweeney, he could earn an opportunity for more.
“Max [Jones] has been an intriguing player, not just because of where he was drafted, but the size of the player, the ability to forecheck, the ability to possess pucks,” Sweeney said on Monday. “He's shown a willingness to get to the net. Can he finish a little bit more if he's pushed up the lineup and play with guys? That's what we're going to find out.”
Jones scored five goals and 15 points in 52 games with the Ducks last season, averaging 12:03 of ice time per game. Listed at 6-foot-3, 216 pounds, Jones brings the size and forechecking ability that Bruins coach Jim Montgomery likes from his bottom-six forwards, and Jones is eager to wreak havoc at TD Garden this season.
“I kind of like to play the game with my hair on fire a little bit,” Jones said on Wednesday, during his first availability with Boston media over Zoom. “Just kind of go, go, go. I think the more I get invested in the game, the more my heart rate goes up, the more effective I can be, and I think that just makes it easier for me to cement my playing style into a game each and every night.”
The Bruins popped up on Jones radar right away when he was looking for a new landing spot. He had heard great things about the organization from former Ducks teammates Kevin Shattenkirk and Hampus Lindholm.
He grew particularly close with Lindholm during their time in Anaheim, spending extra time with him and other players on the team whose significant others did not live in Southern California. Now reunited in Boston, Lindholm was one of the first people to reach out to Jones once he signed his contract.
Aside from the positive things he heard about the Bruins, Jones said Sweeney made him feel wanted, and all those factors made things fall into place.
“There was a lot that attracted me to the Bruins, beginning with the culture and obviously how they play as a team,” Jones said. “I think obviously a fresh start is kind of what I was looking for. Obviously when I heard the Bruins were interested and I obviously was interested, it kind of made the decision very easy for me.”
