Caleb
Jones
D · BUF · Balanced · Around average
- PAL
- 58
- WAR
- 0.0
- Value
- 71
- PTS
- 5
2023-24№ 164 / 316
Caleb Jones (Buffalo Sabres) stats and profile: offensive production, ice time, advanced stats, WAR and PAL rating.
Caleb Jones
#82D
Buffalo Sabres
HEIGHT : 185 cm · WEIGHT : 86 kg · SHOOTS : L
Born : June 5, 1997 · Arlington, United States
Drafted : 2015 · EDM · round 4, pick #117
Contract : $900,000 · 2025-26 → 2026-27 · Standard Contract · UFA
NHL record
| Year | Team | GP | G | A | PTS | PIM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | Pittsburgh Penguins | 7 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 2024-25 | Los Angeles Kings | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 2023-24 | Colorado Avalanche | 25 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 8 |
| 2022-23 | Chicago Blackhawks | 73 | 4 | 12 | 16 | 40 |
| 2021-22 | Chicago Blackhawks | 51 | 5 | 10 | 15 | 18 |
| 2020-21 | Edmonton Oilers | 33 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 6 |
| 2019-20 | Edmonton Oilers | 43 | 4 | 5 | 9 | 10 |
| 2018-19 | Edmonton Oilers | 17 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 6 |
| NHL totals | 255 | 14 | 42 | 56 | 90 | |
Playoffs
| Year | Team | GP | G | A | PTS | PIM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023-24 | Colorado Avalanche | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| 2019-20 | Edmonton Oilers | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Playoff totals | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | |
Caleb Jones: our analysis
2023-24 season: 25 GP, 0 G, 5 A, 5 PTS, +4 +/-, 12:12 TOI. WAR 0.0 (164th of 316) · PAL 58, around average.
In 2023-24, Caleb Jones, 29, posts a PAL Rating of 58 out of 100 (around average), and his WAR of 0.0 ranks 164th among 316 regulars, in the bottom half.
His strengths: defense (76, well above average), possession (71, above average) and creation (68, above average). On the other hand, discipline (19, well below average) and penalty kill (29, below average) hold him back.
Breaking down his WAR (goals above average), his biggest contribution: EV defense (+0.6); his biggest cost: finishing (-1.1).
A clear step forward: his PAL went from 38 in 2022-23 to 58; his WAR, though, went from 0.5 to 0.0.
Contract-wise, his Value score of 71 (good value) weighs his output against what he costs: 50 is what that salary should buy.
Caleb Jones's story
Born in Arlington, Texas, Caleb Jones took the developmental route common to North American defensemen, passing through the United States National Team Development Program before spending key junior seasons with the Portland Winterhawks. Those years helped him refine puck-moving skills and the positional play expected of a professional blueliner.
Selected 117th overall in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft by Edmonton, Jones signed an entry-level deal in April 2016 and continued to hone his game in junior hockey during the 2015–16 and 2016–17 campaigns. He made his first professional appearances with the Bakersfield Condors—Edmonton's AHL affiliate—playing three games late in the 2015–16 season.
Jones established himself with a full AHL season in 2017–18 and returned to Bakersfield in 2018–19. An injury on Edmonton's blue line opened the door for his NHL debut: he was recalled December 12, 2018, and skated in his first NHL game two days later against the Philadelphia Flyers. His path through the pro ranks then included stints with Chicago, Colorado, Los Angeles and Pittsburgh organizations, followed by a trade to Buffalo on October 12, 2026.
Throughout his career Jones has moved between NHL rosters and their AHL affiliates—Bakersfield, the Colorado Eagles, the Ontario Reign and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton—filling depth roles and stepping into the lineup when teams required defensive support. His career also saw a 20-game suspension in February 2026 under the NHL/NHLPA Performance Enhancing Substances Program, announced while he was on the Penguins' injured reserve and also appearing for their AHL club.
On the ice, Jones plays a straightforward defensive game: responsible in his own end, comfortable with the puck, and ready to join transition plays when opportunities arise. He has crafted a professional profile as a reliable depth defenseman, frequently moving between levels but contributing steady minutes when called upon.
Facts drawn from Wikipédia, told in our own words.
Advanced stats
- TOI/GP
- 17:10
- PP TOI/GP
- 0:12
- SH TOI/GP
- 1:28
- Pts/GP
- 0.14
- EV points
- 1
- Hits
- 10
- Blocks
- 15
- Takeaways
- 1
- Corsi % (SAT)
- 44.0 %
- Off. zone starts
- 23.8 %
Stats and photos: NHL (NHL.com)
2026-27 projection
Projected points
2between 0 and 7 (80% range)
- Goals
- 0
- Assists
- 2
- Games
- 10
So far: 0 pts in 0 games. The team has played 17 of 84 games. Projected pace: 0.18 pts per game (last season: 0.14).
The projection follows last season's pace. Tested on 2,265 player seasons (2022-23 to 2025-26): average miss of 9 points over 82 games; for players at 0.9 points per game and up, it ran 5 points high on average.
Trend
Slightly up
- PAL Rating: 38 → 58
Outlook, age included
↗ Slightly upAge 29: prime years
This is only a projection. It knows nothing about injuries, trades or role changes; one player in five finishes outside the range.
Player ratings, 2023-24
All ratings →Fourteen ratings from 0 to 100 drawn from data, never by hand: 75 = established NHL player, 95+ = elite.
OV · OverallConfidence 63 %
71
Established NHL
- SK
- Skating
- 64
- Confidence 67 %
- ST
- Strength
- 65
- Confidence 68 %
- EN
- Endurance
- 60
- Confidence 67 %
- DU
- Durability
- 60
- Confidence 67 %
- CK
- Checking
- 79
- Confidence 68 %
- FG
- Fighting
- 72
- Confidence 38 %
- DI
- Discipline
- 64
- Confidence 68 %
- FO
- Faceoffs
- —
- PA
- Passing
- 77
- Confidence 63 %
- SC
- Scoring
- 76
- Confidence 63 %
- DF
- Defense
- 78
- Confidence 58 %
- PS
- Penalty shot
- 76
- Confidence 0 %
- EX
- Experience
- 65
- Confidence 100 %
Why these ratings?Hide details
SK — Skating64
- Top speed (35 %)34.2 · 59
- Bursts > 20 mph /60 (30 %)1.652 · 74
- Distance /60 (20 %)13.8 · 72
- Speed consistency (15 %)33.8 · 64
ST — Strength65
- Contact absorbed /60 (50 %)4.838 · 74
- Body mass (50 %)-0.716 · 62
EN — Endurance60
- Ice time per game (45 %)17.3 · 67
- Total ice time (20 %)300 · 35
- Shift length (15 %)48.1 · 78
- Lowest recent ice time per game (15 %)14 · 46
- Special-teams time per game (5 %)1.865 · 65
DU — Durability60
- Share of games played (100 %)0.681 · 60
CK — Checking79
- Hits /60 (70 %)5.091 · 80
- Lowest seasonal rate (20 %)4.565 · 79
- Season volume (10 %)3.555 · 62
FG — Fighting72
- Fights per 82 games (100 %)0.88 · 72
DI — Discipline64
- Net penalty value /60 (50 %)-0.073 · 64
- Penalties taken /60 (30 %)0.779 · 68
- Penalties drawn /60 (20 %)0.346 · 70
PA — Passing77
- Primary assists /60 (40 %)0.383 · 76
- Secondary assists /60 (20 %)0.367 · 69
- Offensive creation (RAPM) (20 %)0.058 · 81
- Power-play points /60 (10 %)3.659 · 62
- Assist consistency (10 %)0.291 · 75
SC — Scoring76
- Goals /60 (25 %)0.166 · 68
- Individual xG /60 (20 %)0.22 · 77
- Finishing (goals − xG per shot) (20 %)-0.202 · 65
- High-danger chances /60 (15 %)0.236 · 89
- xG per shot (10 %)0.036 · 80
- Shot attempts /60 (10 %)9.009 · 70
DF — Defense78
- RAPM defense /60 (35 %)0.056 · 79
- Relative xG against (20 %)-0.049 · 77
- On-ice xG against /60 (15 %)2.721 · 73
- Penalty kill /60 (10 %)0.008 · 77
- Takeaways − giveaways /60 (10 %)-0.637 · 75
- Shot attempts against /60 (5 %)56.9 · 84
- Blocked shots /60 (5 %)5.073 · 77
PS — Penalty shot76
- Shootouts (60 %)31.9 · 76
- Penalty shots (40 %)30.9 · 76
EX — Experience65
- Career regular-season games (65 %)77
- Career playoff games (25 %)34
- NHL seasons (10 %)66
OV — Overall71
- DF · Defense (30 %)78
- PA · Passing (22 %)77
- SK · Skating (12 %)64
- SC · Scoring (12 %)76
- EN · Endurance (9 %)60
- ST · Strength (6 %)65
- DI · Discipline (5 %)64
- CK · Checking (4 %)79
| Season | OV | SK | SC | DF |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023-24 | 71 | 64 | 76 | 78 |
| 2022-23 | 69 | 63 | 76 | 76 |
The bars show confidence (sample size), not player quality. — : not enough data, not a zero. Engine version 1.0.
WAR and PAL ratings, 2023-24
How we rate →PAL Rating scores performance from 0 to 100 against players at the same position (50 = average player), starting from the player's strength, offensive or defensive. Value Rating compares that performance with what the player costs: 50 means paid what the play is worth.
PAL Rating
58/ 100
Performance · Around average
107 of 258 at the position
Value Rating
71/ 100
Good value
0.78 M$ · expected PAL 38
ProfileBalancedNeither end dominates
- Offense
- 62
- Defense
- 70
See full detailsHide details
- Offense
- 56
- Creation
- 68
- Shooting
- 30
- Possession
- 71
- Defense
- 76
- Discipline
- 19
- Power play
- 62
- Penalty kill
- 29
From 0 to 100; 50 is the average player at the same position, adjusted for ice time.
| Season | Team | WAR | PAL | Value | Cap hit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023-24 | COL | 0.0 | 58 | 71 | 0.78 M$ |
| 2022-23 | CHI | 0.5 | 38 | 38 | 1.35 M$ |
Hockey IQ, 2023-24
Rankings and method →The quality of the player's decisions with and against the puck at 5-on-5, against regulars at the same position (50 = average). PAL measures output; IQ measures how the player plays.
Overall IQ
59/ 100
Average
better than 59% of defensemen, offense and defense combined
Offensive IQ
62/ 100
Average
passing, shots, puck
Defensive IQ
54/ 100
Average
takeaways, discipline, own zone
Overall IQ isn't an average of the two scores: it's the player's rank with offense and defense combined, 95 of 234 defensemen.
See full detailsHide details
Offense
- Playmaking passes
- 92
- Shot selection
- 87
- Penalties drawn
- 6
- Puck management
- 12
Defense
- Takeaways
- 72
- Discipline
- 47
- Safe zone exits
- 40
Percentiles: 80 means better than 80% of regulars at the same position. Play without the puck (positioning, coverage) isn't measured: the NHL doesn't publish that data.
| Season | Team | IQ | Off. | Def. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023-24 | COL | 59 | 62 | 54 |
| 2022-23 | CHI | 29 | 50 | 23 |
WAR, 2025-26
How it's calculated →Wins added to the team, compared with a replacement-level player called up from the AHL.
0.1
wins above replacement
0.0 to 0.2 — 90% interval
168 of 325 defensemen
+0.4 goals above replacement
Full leaderboard →See full detailsHide details
- EV offense
- +0.1
- EV defense
- +0.1
- Power play
- 0.0
- Penalty kill
- +0.0
- Shooting
- -0.2
- Penalties
- +0.2
- Average → replacement
- +0.2
In goals.
| Season | Team | GP | WAR | 90% interval | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | PIT | 7 | 0.1 | 0.0 to 0.2 | 168/325 |
| 2024-25 | LAK | 6 | 0.1 | -0.0 to 0.1 | 175/314 |
| 2023-24 | COL | 25 | 0.0 | -0.2 to 0.2 | 164/316 |
| 2022-23 | CHI | 73 | 0.5 | -0.2 to 1.8 | 81/334 |
Player tracking (NHL EDGE)
League EDGE leaderboards →Speed, shot power, distance covered, time by zone: measured by chips in the puck and shoulder pads. 90th percentile = better than 90% of players.
- Hardest shot
- 126.9 km/h12th percentileleague avg. 143.1 km/h
- Top skating speed
- 33.6 km/h24th percentileleague avg. 34.7 km/h
- Bursts over 20 mph, season
- 215th percentileleague avg. 31
- Offensive zone time
- 40.3 %30th percentileleague avg. 42.3 %
See full detailsHide details
- Total distance, season
- 27.4 km18th percentileleague avg. 214.3 km
- Distance, single-game high
- 4.31 km21st percentileleague avg. 5.23 km
- Offensive zone at 5v5
- 40.5 %14th percentileleague avg. 42.1 %
- Neutral zone time
- 16.9 %2nd percentileleague avg. 16.8 %
- Defensive zone time
- 42.7 %17th percentileleague avg. 40.9 %
Shooting
| Shots on goal | Goals | Shooting % | |
|---|---|---|---|
| All | 516th percentile | 00th percentile | 0.0 %0th percentile |
| High danger | 00th percentile | 00th percentile | 0.0 %0th percentile |
| Mid range | 00th percentile | 00th percentile | 0.0 %0th percentile |
| Long range | 419th percentile | 00th percentile | 0.0 %0th percentile |
Shots on goal by zone
2025-2026 regular season. Measured by puck and player tracking chips; the percentile ranks the player within the league.
Game log, 2025-26
FLA
VAN
SJS
LAK
NYR
NYICaleb Jones: frequently asked questions
How many goals does Caleb Jones have in 2025-26?
Caleb Jones has 0 goals and 1 point (1 assist) in 7 games in 2025-26.
How old is Caleb Jones?
Caleb Jones is 29 years old: he was born on June 6, 1997.
How tall is Caleb Jones, and how much does he weigh?
Caleb Jones is 6'1" (185 cm) and weighs 190 lb (86 kg).
Where is Caleb Jones from?
United States: Caleb Jones was born in Arlington, Texas, United States.
What team does Caleb Jones play for?
Caleb Jones plays for the Buffalo Sabres in the NHL, at D, wearing number 82.
Is Caleb Jones injured?
No: Caleb Jones is not on the latest NHL injury report. This answer is updated throughout the season.
How good is Caleb Jones?
Caleb Jones produced 0.1 wins above replacement (WAR) in 2025-26, 168th of 325 players at his position in the NHL.
How much does Caleb Jones make?
Caleb Jones carries a cap hit of $900K per season, on a contract worth $1.8M in total over 2 years.
When does Caleb Jones's contract end?
Caleb Jones's contract runs through the 2026-27 season; he will then be an unrestricted free agent.
Is Caleb Jones a top-10 player at his position?
No: by WAR, he ranks 168th of 325 players at his position in the NHL in 2025-26. Our comparison tool puts him side by side with any other player.
Is Caleb Jones getting better?
Yes: his PAL rating went from 38 in 2022-23 to 58 in 2023-24 (out of 100, 50 = average player at his position).
How has Caleb Jones played lately?
Over his last 7 games, Caleb Jones has 1 point (0 goals, 1 assist).
What are Caleb Jones's career stats?
Over his NHL career, Caleb Jones has 255 games, 14 goals, 42 assists and 56 points. His best season: 2022-23, with 16 points in 73 games.
Where was Caleb Jones drafted?
Caleb Jones was drafted 117th overall (round 4) by Edmonton Oilers in 2015.
How does Caleb Jones perform in the playoffs?
In the playoffs, Caleb Jones has 5 games and 0 points in his career. His pace (0.00 points per game) is lower than his regular-season pace (0.22).
Is Caleb Jones a good fantasy pick?
Probably not, except in deep leagues: our projection has him at 2 points in 2026-27, or 0.20 points per game.
Does Caleb Jones have siblings?
Yes: his brother Seth Jones (also a defenseman).
Is Caleb Jones related to anyone famous?
Yes: Popeye Jones (father, former NBA player).
Is Caleb Jones married?
Yes, married to Lexi Lundgren in July 2025.
What is Caleb Jones's nationality?
Caleb Jones is American.
Where did Caleb Jones play before turning pro?
Portland Winterhawks (WHL) and United States National Team Development Program (USHL); played with the Winterhawks in 2015–16 and 2016–17.
How many points is Caleb Jones projected to score in 2026-27?
Our projection has him at 2 points in 10 games in 2026-27 (0 to 7 points, 80% interval), based on his recent seasons, age and role.
See also: his Buffalo Sabres teammates
Full roster →
NHL.com ↗ · Stats and photos: NHL (NHL.com)