Seth Jones out 8-10 weeks after surgery on fractured ankle

Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Seth Jones will miss the next 8-to-10 weeks after undergoing surgery to repair a fractured ankle on Tuesday, the team announced.

Jones suffered the injury in a game versus the Colorado Avalanche on Saturday.

The Blue Jackets will sorely miss Jones, who leads the team in ice time per game (25:17) and has chipped in six goals and 30 points in 56 appearances. He also leads the league in defensive-zone blocked passes this season, according to The Point Hockey.

There are eight weeks remaining in the regular season, and Columbus is in the thick of the Eastern Conference playoff race. At 30-17-10, the Blue Jackets occupy the first wild-card spot in the conference. Since Jan. 1, they've posted the NHL's second-best record.