The Jones family dinner table feels a lot more whole these days.

Popeye, a Denver Nuggets assistant coach, recently invited his son over to the house for a meal. It hasn’t been easy for Caleb to make it, until last month, when the Colorado Avalanche traded for the 26-year-old NHL defenseman. Dad fired up the grill this week.

“I got a nice homecooked steak from him,” Caleb Jones told The Denver Gazette.

The unique basketball/hockey ties of the Jones family are well documented. Popeye’s older son, Seth, was the No. 4 overall pick of the 2013 NHL draft. The boys spent some of their childhood living in Denver when Popeye played for the Nuggets. They became hockey super fans watching Joe Sakic and Patrick Roy.

“The greatest gift I could give young kids, who were just in love with hockey, was to buy them Stanley Cup championship tickets,” Popeye Jones said. “For them to see the Cup get raised in 2001 was pretty cool.”

On Saturday, before puck drop against the Blues at Ball Arena, the Avs recalled Caleb from the Colorado Eagles (AHL). It’s the next step in what he calls a “full circle” journey back to the place where he learned to skate, getting his start playing hockey in the Littleton Hawks youth program. Caleb — a 2015 fourth-round draft pick — has since appeared in 217 career NHL games between the Oilers and Blackhawks

Caleb cherished the past two seasons playing alongside his brother in Chicago. He’s found a new family connection with the Avalanche and Nuggets.

“My mom and dad, when I was young, they’re huge in driving you to the rink, paying for everything and making sure that you have good gear. Just supporting you throughout your journey every step of the way,” Caleb Jones said. “My dad, when he found out (about the trade), was really excited. I’ll be really close to him, so it’s a really cool situation.”

Popeye Jones added: “Oh my gosh, I was stoked. Because it’s been a lot of years since we’ve lived in the same city together, obviously. With them leaving early and going to the national development program when they were 16, and then going to Portland and playing after that, they’ve been gone from home a long time.

“For the Avs to give him a shot. For him to come to Denver, a place that he’s familiar with, where he started playing hockey, I was really excited. My last message was: I’m not going to bother you too much. I understand what you’re trying to do.”

Caleb accounted for six assists over his first 12 games playing for the Eagles this season. Popeye relates to his younger son’s underdog mindset to become an everyday defenseman on the Avalanche roster.

“I always tell him: You kind of came up like me,” Popeye Jones said. “I was a second-round pick. I had to go to Italy my first year, then come back and make it. Nothing guaranteed every year. I can always talk to him about my experiences (playing in the NBA).”

Popeye watched his son play several Colorado Eagles home games in nearby Loveland. Caleb’s call-up Saturday to the NHL roster, despite not playing against St. Louis, suggests his debut for the Avalanche is on the horizon.

When their NBA and NHL schedules align, on rare occasions, you can bet that Popeye will be in attendance. A proud dad. Caleb is ready to make it happen.

“It starts with being consistent down here with the Eagles,” Caleb Jones said. “Being the best I can be here and helping this team out. I think I’ve done a pretty good job of that through these first 12 games. I’ll keep looking to build on my game and get better every day. Just make sure that when that opportunity does arise, I’m not prepared for it. Impress them enough to where they want to keep me in the lineup.”

Vinny Benedetto, Nuggets beat writer for The Denver Gazette, contributed to this story.

Blues 8, Avalanche 2

What happened: The Avalanche were blown out to finish their three-game homestand with a 1-2 record.

What went right: Colorado cut into their deficit late in the second period when Mikko Rantanen redirected a Cale Makar shot on goal. Jack Johnson scored a goal just before the end of regulation.

What went wrong: The Avalanche trailed 3-0 after the first. Brayden Schenn scored twice, including a tip-in goal just 68 seconds into regulation. Torey Krug notched their third goal of the period. The Blues kept rolling in the second when Pavel Buchnevich scored a shorthanded goal. Buchnevich scored two additional goals (one more shorthanded) for a hat trick. Schenn also scored again for a hat trick. Alexey Toropchenko added a goal in the third period.

Between the pipes: Alexandar Georgiev made 22-of-28 saves and was pulled early in the third period. He was replaced by Ivan Prosvetov (12-14). Jordan Binnington for St. Louis stopped 38 of Colorado’s 40 shots on goal.

Injury report: Artturi Lehkonen and Andrew Cogliano both missed the game with upper body injuries. Lehkonen is expected to miss “weeks” and Cogliano is “day-to-day.”

What’s next: The Avalanche (8-5-0) travel to face the Seattle Kraken, 8 p.m. Monday at Climate Pledge Arena.