Defenseman Seth Jones hoped to get a commerce away from the Chicago Blackhawks, and on Saturday night he acquired precisely that. Not solely did he get the commerce, he’s going to one of many NHL’s greatest groups and a bona fide Stanley Cup contender.
The Blackhawks are sending Jones and a 2026 fourth-round choose to the Florida Panthers in trade for goalie Spencer Knight and a 2026 first-round draft choose.
Chicago can also be retaining 25 p.c of Jones’ remaining contract by way of the top of the 2029-30 season.
It’s an fascinating commerce for each groups, and maybe a greater than anticipated return for Chicago.
Additionally it is an particularly massive gamble for Florida.
The Panthers had been in want of extra defensive assist as they attempt to defend their Stanley Cup championship, and Jones will definitely assist convey some offense to their lineup. However his contract has all the time been the massive impediment with him as a result of he has by no means actually performed just like the $9.5 million participant the Blackhawks had been paying him to be. At occasions that contract gave the impression to be unmovable.
However with Chicago retaining a portion of that remaining contract, the Panthers at the moment are getting Jones as a $7 million per yr participant, which makes it a little bit extra tolerable. However there may be nonetheless some debate as as to whether or not he’s even value that. For concerning the previous three or 4 years he is been a participant whose popularity — and wage — has at occasions exceeded his precise on-ice worth.
Not solely is Florida taking up that important cap hit, nevertheless it’s additionally buying and selling two very precious belongings in Knight and a future first-round choose. Knight remains to be solely 23 years outdated and can get an opportunity to tackle an even bigger position in Chicago than he was ever going to get in Florida behind Sergei Bobrovsky. Whereas his profession has seen him produce largely league common numbers up to now, he nonetheless has the potential and talent to be a long-term starter.
Florida has had a substantial amount of success in recent times in serving to defensemen flip their careers round, and Jones definitely matches the mould of gamers they search for.
With veteran Aaron Ekblad doubtlessly headed to free company after this season, they’d a necessity for a long-term reply as properly.
Now the query is whether or not or not they’ll get Jones to play as much as his wage.
If he does, it is going to be one other shrewd transfer for a staff that has constantly pushed all the proper buttons in recent times.
If he doesn’t, that will probably be a giant wage cap quantity to cope with — and two massive belongings going the opposite means — for the subsequent few years.
