Preds’ Jones says Hanifin has ‘all the tools’

NASHVILLE — Seth Jones finds it easy to identify with Noah Hanifin of the Carolina Hurricanes, and with all that Hanifin will face as a teenaged rookie defenseman in the NHL.

Jones was the fourth overall pick of the 2013 NHL Draft by the Nashville Predators. He was 18 years old when he first came to the Preds’ training camp, turning 19 on the day — Oct. 3, 2013 — of the Preds’ regular-season opener, his NHL debut.

“I don’t think he’s going to have any problems in the league,” Jones said Thursday after the Preds’ morning skate at Bridgestone Arena. “He’s very skilled, he’s big and he’s strong and he’s a great skater. He definitely has all the tools to play in the league right now.”

Hanifin was the fifth overall pick in the draft this year, leaving Boston College after his freshman year to begin his professional career. He will be making his NHL debut Thursday, and against a team that believes it can be a Stanley Cup contender this year.

Jones said he met Hanifin while visiting the U.S. National Team Development Program. Jones’ younger brother, Caleb, was in the NTDP with Hanifin and the two are good friends.

Jones, who was in the U.S. program for two years, played 77 games for the Preds in 2013-14, his rookie season. There were the inevitable highs and lows, good games and bad.

“The biggest challenge is the speed and physicality,” Jones said. “You can’t takes shifts off. That’s something I had to learn. If you’re playing against the first line, that’s a big difference right there. But the intensity of the game, with the speed and physicality of playing against grown men, is the big thing.”

There’s always the grind of the season. Some rookies need to take a seat for a few games at times — Carolina center Victor Rask was given a few games off last season, Canes coach Bill Peters said, as much for mental fatigue as physical fatigue.

“In this league you have to forget about mistakes quickly,” Jones said. “My first year was definitely a learning curve and you can’t hold on to mistakes or dwell on them because you have to go out there the next shift and keep making plays.”

Jones, like Hanifin, played for the U.S. in the World Junior Championship. He has since been a part of World Championships for Team USA and one day could have Hanifin as a teammate on a national team.

“My advice to him is don’t change your game,” Jones said. “His game got him here and I believe if he keeps developing his game he’s going to be a great defenseman for years to come.”

Hanifin, after the Canes’ morning skate, said he would “just go out and play.” It said it should be “pretty surreal” but that after a few shifts it would just be hockey.

Hanifin said his parents, brother and sister, and a cousin would be at the game for his debut.

“It’s a big jump,” Hanifin said. “I think I’m ready for it.”

This story was originally published October 8, 2015 at 2:21 PM with the headline "Preds’ Jones says Hanifin has ‘all the tools’."