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 finest groups and a bona fide Stanley Cup contender.
The Blackhawks are sending Jones and a 2026 fourth-round choose to the Florida Panthers in alternate for goalie Spencer Knight and a 2026 first-round draft.
Chicago can also be retaining 25 % of Jones’ remaining contract by the top of the 2029-30 season.
It’s an fascinating commerce for each groups, and maybe a greater than anticipated return for Chicago.
It’s also an particularly massive gamble for Florida.
The Panthers have been in want of further defensive assist as they attempt to defend their Stanley Cup championship, and Jones will definitely assist deliver some offense to their lineup. However his contract has all the time been the large impediment with him as a result of he has by no means actually performed just like the $9.5 million participant the Blackhawks have been paying him to be. At occasions that contract appeared 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 bit extra tolerable. However there may be nonetheless some debate as as to if or not he’s even price that. For in regards to the previous three or 4 years he is been a participant whose status — and wage — has at occasions exceeded his precise on-ice worth.
Not solely is Florida taking up that vital cap hit, but it surely’s additionally buying and selling two very worthwhile belongings in Knight and a future first-round choose. Knight remains to be solely 23 years previous and can get an opportunity to tackle a much bigger function 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 thus far, he nonetheless has the potential and talent to be a long-term starter.
Florida has had quite a lot of success in recent times in serving to defensemen flip their careers round, and Jones definitely suits the mildew of gamers they search for.
With veteran Aaron Ekblad probably headed to free company after this season, that they had a necessity for a long-term reply as properly.
Now the query is whether or not or not they will get Jones to play as much as his wage.
If he does, it is going to be one other shrewd transfer for a group that has persistently pushed all the proper buttons in recent times.
If he doesn’t, that shall be an enormous wage cap quantity to take care of — and two massive belongings going the opposite manner — for the following few years.
