Seth Jones on teams that passed on him: ‘You definitely want to prove them wrong’

NEWARK, NJ - Seth Jones was projected as the first overall pick in the 2013 NHL Draft a few months ago. Then he was passed by center Nathan MacKinnon. Then the Colorado Avalanche, Florida Panthers and Tampa Bay Lightning passed on him on Sunday at Prudential Center.

He earned a Nashville Predators jersey with the No. 4 pick, and chip on his shoulder about it.

“I’m competitive. I get that from my parents. You definitely want to prove them wrong. It’s not my only goal for next year, but it’s definitely on my list,” he said in Newark, where his father's former NBA team, the Nets, briefly called home.

“I’d be lying if I wasn’t thinking about going to those teams. At the same time, I’m excited to be a Predator.”

Nathan MacKinnon, taken first overall by Colorado, said Jones could have easily gone higher.

“This is such a tight draft. Any of the four of us could have gone No. 1,” he said. “Seth is going to have an incredible career in Nashville. Maybe in another draf,t Seth could have been No. 1.”