Max Jones Bio
Max Jones is an American professional ice hockey forward for the Edmonton Oilers of the National Hockey League (NHL). Jones was drafted by the Anaheim Ducks, 24th overall, in the 2016 NHL entry draft. The Rochester, Michigan native is the son of former NHL player Brad Jones and has built his career as a physical forward known for his size and two-way play. Jones appeared in 19 games with the Oilers during the 2024-25 season after being acquired in a trade from the Boston Bruins in March 2025.
Early Life and Background
Max Jones was born on February 17, 1998, in Rochester, Michigan. His father, Brad Jones, carved out a solid NHL career, appearing in 148 games with the Winnipeg Jets, Los Angeles Kings, and Philadelphia Flyers. His mother was an alternate on the United States Olympic Diving Team in 1988, giving Max a strong athletic pedigree from both sides of his family.
Growing up in Michigan, Jones played his youth hockey in the junior Honeybaked Hockey program. His exceptional talent earned him a spot with the United States National Development Team for the 2014-15 season. During that campaign in the United States Hockey League (USHL), Jones appeared in 24 games with the national team, scoring five goals and 10 points while accumulating 116 penalty minutes. He also suited up for the USNDPT U17 team in 38 games, recording 18 goals and 28 points alongside 189 penalty minutes, demonstrating the physical edge that would become a hallmark of his game.
Path to Professional Hockey
Jones was selected by the London Knights of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) in the first round, 18th overall, during the 2014 OHL Priority Selection. He joined the Knights for the 2015-16 season and made his OHL debut on September 25, 2015. He recorded his first career OHL point with an assist on October 4 against Oshawa before scoring his first goal on October 17 against the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds. One week later, he earned his first career OHL hat trick, including the overtime winner, against North Bay Battalion. Jones finished his rookie OHL season with 28 goals and 52 points in 63 games, helping the Knights to a 105-point season and a third-place Western Conference finish.
During the 2016 OHL playoffs, Jones contributed to the Knights championship run, scoring a goal and an assist in the opening round against Owen Sound. However, he received a 12-game suspension for a blind-side hit during the playoff run. He returned for the J. Ross Robertson Cup final against Niagara and helped London sweep the IceDogs in four games to claim the OHL championship and earn a berth in the Memorial Cup tournament.
Max Jones Career
Junior Career with London Knights (2015-2018)
At the 2016 Memorial Cup, Jones played in the Knights opening game against Red Deer, though he was held off the scoreboard in the victory. He scored his first career Memorial Cup goal on May 23 against Brandon before adding an assist in a win over Wheat Kings. In the championship final, Jones earned an assist as London defeated the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies to win the Memorial Cup tournament.
Jones returned to London for the 2016-17 season and set a career-high four points on October 24 against Saginaw. However, the season was disrupted by injuries and a 10-game suspension that began February 23 for a cross-check on Jonah Gadjovich. Despite appearing in only 33 games due to these setbacks, he scored 17 goals and 36 points. In the playoffs, he contributed seven goals and 12 points in 14 games as London reached the Western Conference final.
During the 2017-18 season, Jones earned a hat trick against Kitchener on October 20 and tied his career-high with four points on December 10 against Erie. On January 7, 2018, the Knights traded him to the Kingston Frontenacs in exchange for Sergey Popov and draft picks. Jones appeared in 25 games with London, scoring 18 goals and 21 points before the trade.
Kingston Frontenacs and Junior Conclusion
Jones made his Frontenacs debut on January 12, 2018, earning third star in a loss to Guelph. He scored his first goal with Kingston in his next game against Oshawa. However, he suffered a broken thumb on January 21 against Mississauga, which ended his regular season. He returned for the playoffs and scored his first playoff goal for the Frontenacs on April 12. In nine playoff games, he recorded three goals and four points as Kingston reached the Eastern Conference final before losing to Hamilton.
Anaheim Ducks (2017-2024)
Jones was drafted 24th overall by the Anaheim Ducks in the 2016 NHL entry draft and signed his entry-level contract on August 26, 2016. Following his junior season with London in 2017, he was assigned to Anaheims AHL affiliate, the San Diego Gulls, for the remainder of their playoff run. He scored his first professional goal on May 10, 2017, in a playoff game against San Jose.
Jones spent most of the 2018-19 season with San Diego, scoring his first regular-season AHL goal on November 3 against Ontario. He received his first NHL call-up on January 16, 2019, and made his NHL debut the following night in a 3-0 win over Minnesota. He recorded his first NHL point against the Wild on February 19 and scored his first NHL goal on March 8 against Carey Price in an 8-2 victory over Montreal. He finished his rookie NHL season with two goals and five points in 31 games.
Jones made the Ducks out of training camp for 2019-20 but was assigned to San Diego to continue his development. He spent the entire 2020-21 season with Anaheim, recording his first multi-point game with two assists in an overtime win over St. Louis on March 28, 2021. He finished with 11 points in 46 games and signed a three-year contract extension on August 10, 2021.
After playing just two games of the 2021-22 season, Jones tore his pectoral muscle and missed the remainder of the campaign. He returned for 2022-23 and saw his responsibilities grow as the season progressed, moving up to play alongside Troy Terry and Mason McTavish on the top lines. During the 2023-24 season, Jones appeared in 52 games, scoring five goals and 15 points while battling through injuries that cost him 30 games. Following the season, the Ducks declined to offer him a qualifying contract, making him an unrestricted free agent.
Boston Bruins (2024-2025)
After six seasons with Anaheim, Jones signed a two-year, $2 million contract with the Boston Bruins on July 1, 2024. He made the Bruins roster out of training camp but struggled early in the season. After appearing in just four games, he was placed on waivers on November 5, 2024, and went unclaimed. He was assigned to Bostons AHL affiliate, the Providence Bruins, on November 6.
Jones was recalled by Boston on January 21, 2025, following an injury to Mark Kastelic. He appeared in three more games with the Bruins before being returned to Providence on January 30. With Providence, he recorded 13 goals and 21 points in 38 AHL games.
Edmonton Oilers (2025-Present)
On March 4, 2025, Jones was traded to the Edmonton Oilers alongside unsigned forward prospect Petr Hauser in exchange for defenseman Max Wanner, a 2025 second-round draft pick, and a 2026 fourth-round draft pick in a three-team deal involving Boston and the player movement that sent Trent Frederic to Edmonton.
Jones was assigned to Edmontons AHL affiliate, the Bakersfield Condors, immediately after the trade. He was recalled to the NHL roster the following day and made his Oilers debut on March 6, 2025, providing an assist in a 3-2 win over Montreal. He remained with the Oilers for the remainder of the season, appearing in 19 games and scoring his first goal as an Oiler in the final regular-season game against San Jose. Although the Oilers reached the 2025 Stanley Cup Final before losing in six games, Jones served as a healthy scratch and did not appear in any postseason games.
International Career
Jones represented Team USA at the 2018 World Junior Championship. He scored his only goal of the tournament in the opening game, a 9-0 victory over Denmark. The United States team went on to capture the bronze medal at the competition.
Playing Style and Strengths
Jones plays the forward position and shoots left. Standing at 6 feet 3 inches and weighing 216 pounds, he brings significant size and physicality to his game. Known as a checking-line forward, Jones excels in forechecking situations and along the boards. His penalty minute totals throughout his junior career indicate a willingness to play a physical, intimidating style. He developed his two-way game during his time with the Ducks, becoming a reliable option for coaches in various situations.
Max Jones Career Highlights
Jones has accumulated achievements at both the junior and professional levels throughout his career. His junior career was highlighted by championship success, while his NHL career has seen him develop into a dependable depth forward capable of contributing in multiple facets of the game.
Junior Hockey Highlights
Jones most significant junior achievement came in 2016 when he helped the London Knights win both the OHL championship and the Memorial Cup. During that OHL season, he scored 28 goals and 52 points in 63 games as a rookie. His physical presence was evident with 116 penalty minutes in USHL play and 189 penalty minutes with the U17 national team. In his second OHL season, he was on pace for a strong campaign before injuries and a suspension limited him to 33 games, yet he still produced 17 goals and 36 points with seven goals in 14 playoff games.
Professional and International Highlights
At the professional level, Jones made his NHL debut in January 2019 and scored his first NHL goal one month later against Carey Price. His best NHL season came in 2020-21 with 11 points in 46 games before injuries derailed his 2021-22 campaign. His international highlight remains the bronze medal he earned with Team USA at the 2018 World Junior Championship, where he contributed a goal in the opening victory over Denmark.
Max Jones Family
Family Background and Hockey Lineage
Jones comes from a distinguished athletic family. His father, Brad Jones, played 148 NHL games across seven seasons with the Winnipeg Jets, Los Angeles Kings, and Philadelphia Flyers, establishing a hockey legacy that Max would follow. His mother was an alternate on the United States Olympic Diving Team in 1988, providing Max with elite-level athletic genes from both parents. This family background has clearly influenced his path to professional hockey.
Personal Life
Jones is married. Despite growing up in Michigan and playing much of his career on the West Coast with Anaheim, Jones has maintained connections to his roots throughout his hockey journey. His fathers NHL experience has been cited as a formative influence on his development as a player, providing guidance and perspective throughout his career path from junior hockey through the professional ranks.
2025 Season Performance
The 2024-25 season represented a transitional year for Jones following his departure from Anaheim. After beginning the season with Boston, he appeared in only four NHL games before being placed on waivers and reassigned to Providence in the AHL. He showed his offensive ability in the minors with 13 goals in 38 games before receiving another opportunity with Boston in January 2025.
The trade to Edmonton in March 2025 gave Jones a fresh start with a team that had just reached the Stanley Cup Final. Jones made an immediate impact in his Oilers debut, recording an assist against Montreal. He appeared in 19 games with Edmonton to close the regular season and scored his first goal as an Oiler in the season finale against San Jose.
While Jones did not crack the Oilers lineup during their playoff run to the Stanley Cup Final, his performance down the stretch demonstrated the skills he brings to a team. The Oilers valued his size and physicality enough to acquire him as part of a significant trade. Looking ahead, Jones will have the opportunity to compete for a regular spot in Edmontons lineup during the 2025-26 season, where his checking-line abilities and veteran experience could prove valuable for a team with championship aspirations.