Kings sign Caleb Jones to one-year, two-way contract

A young veteran blueliner is heading to Hollywood next year.

On Friday, the Los Angeles Kings signed defenseman Caleb Jones to a one-year, two-way contract. The deal carries a $775,000 cap hit through the 2024-25 season, and a minor-league salary of $425,000. According to PuckPedia, $440,000 is guaranteed.

It is the third consecutive season that Jones has been on a one-year contract. After playing his second season with the Chicago Blackhawks, the Arlington, Texas native signed a one-year contract with the Carolina Hurricanes. However, before the 2023-24 season even started, Jones was traded to the Colorado Avalanche for Cal Burke.

It was a tough year for the former Portland Winterhawk. He spent time in the American Hockey League with the Avalanche’s primary affiliate, the Colorado Eagles. When he was with up with the Avs, the 27-year-old was a healthy scratch a number of times, especially during the Stanley Cup Playoffs. In 25 games with the Avalanche, Jones registered five assists, playing in three of the Kings’ five games against the Edmonton Oilers in the opening round of the postseason.

In 12 appearances with the Eagles, he put up six assists. It was Jones’ first bit of AHL action since the 2019-20 season with the Bakersfield Condors.

Jones played two seasons with the Blackhawks, briefly playing with his brother, Seth. Before that, he was a member of the Edmonton Oilers organization, the team that took him in the fourth round of the 2015 NHL Draft, for four seasons.

In 242 NHL games, Jones has notched 14 goals and 41 assists with a plus/minus of -35, appearing in five playoff games. He has played in 137 AHL games, scoring 11 goals and 52 assists, notching three helpers in 10 Calder Cup Playoff games.

Like his brother, Jones made a name for himself in his junior days. With Team USA, he won gold at the 2013 Under-17 World Hockey Challenge, 2015 IIHF Men’s Under-18 World Championship and 2017 IIHF World Junior Championship.