Defenseman Seth Jones hoped to get a commerce away from the Chicago Blackhawks, and on Saturday night he received 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 decide to the Florida Panthers in alternate for goalie Spencer Knight and a 2026 first-round draft decide.
Chicago can be retaining 25 p.c of Jones’ remaining contract by means 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.
It’s also an particularly massive gamble for Florida.
The Panthers had been in want of further 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 large 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 instances that contract gave the impression to be unmovable.
However with Chicago retaining a portion of that remaining contract, the Panthers are actually getting Jones as a $7 million per 12 months participant, which makes it a bit of extra tolerable. However there may be nonetheless some debate as as to whether 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 instances exceeded his precise on-ice worth.
Not solely is Florida taking up that important cap hit, but it surely’s additionally buying and selling two very priceless property in Knight and a future first-round decide. Knight continues to be solely 23 years outdated and can get an opportunity to tackle a much bigger position in Chicago than he was ever going to get in Florida behind Sergei Bobrovsky.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 an excessive amount of success lately in serving to defensemen flip their careers round, and Jones definitely matches the mildew of gamers they search for.
With veteran Aaron Ekblad probably 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 will get Jones to play as much as his wage.
If he does, it will likely be one other shrewd transfer for a crew that has constantly pushed all the proper buttons lately.
If he doesn’t, that might be an enormous wage cap quantity to take care of — and two massive property going the opposite manner — for the following few years.
