A "little while" turned out to be a month or longer.
It's unclear when in the second period - or how - the injury occurred, but Jones was removed and didn't return. An MRI Wednesday in Columbus showed a Grade 2 MCL sprain, which does not require surgery but will keep him off the ice for extended time.
"That definitely sucks for him, for sure, and us as a team," said defenseman Adam Clendening, who scored the Jackets' second goal Tuesday against the Sabres and could be in line to lock down an NHL roster spot.
Clendening, Gabriel Carlsson and Dean Kukan, who've all competed to land roles as the Jackets' sixth or seventh defenseman, now might all begin the regular season with Columbus. An additional defenseman, or two, could also be recalled from the Cleveland Monsters of The American Hockey League, if needed.
Several were just assigned there Monday, including Dillon Simpson and Tommy Cross - who were signed July along with Clendening - and they were joined Wednesday by Michael Prapavessis, whose impressive training-camp run netted him an AHL contract with the Monsters.
"I think when you look at our back end, especially with [Murray] being hurt now, it gives [Clendening] an opportunity," Tortorella said Tuesday, after morning skate and prior to Jones' injury. "I'm not sure where it plays out in our top six, but … you're always looking for defensemen. We sent some defensemen down [Monday] and that's what I told them. We're always going to be looking for defensemen. It just happens that way."
One, in particular, could be a big boost to the blue line.
It's Werenski, whose 16 goals set a franchise record for single-season goals by a defenseman last year - along with Jones.
Werenski played all but 12 games last season with a torn labrum in his left shoulder, which he underwent surgery to correct May 3, along with some "clean-up work' on his rotator cuff. Werenski was given a recovery estimate of 5-to-6 months and has already gained clearance for controlled contact in practices as the five-month mark nears.
He's targeting a preseason game Friday at Nationwide Arena, against the Pittsburgh Penguins, as his first return to game action and hopes to play in the Jackets' season-opener Oct. 4 in Detroit - near his hometown of Grosse Pointe, Mich.
None of that is set in stone yet, though, so Jones' injury creates even more opportunity for other defensemen to seize more playing time.
Scott Harrington, Clendening, Carlsson and Kukan will likely be the first wave to get a serious look, but don't count out Prapavessis, Simpson, Ryan Collins or Cross from getting looks either, at some point.
"I obviously want to play in the NHL and try to find a home," said Clendening, who has played 86 NHL games split between six prior teams. "I've bounced around a little bit in that [depth defenseman] role, so I'd like to find somewhere I could maybe try to solidify myself and play to my strengths, with style of play. That's what I'm looking for."
