Three years into an eight-year contract with the Chicago Blackhawks, Seth Jones is willing to consider moving on to a contender.
On Wednesday, Ben Pope of the Chicago Sun-Times reported Jones hasn’t formally requested a trade. However, the 30-year-old defenseman and his agent discussed the possibility with Blackhawks GM Kyle Davidson.
Former Blackhawks GM Stan Bowman acquired Jones from the Columbus Blue Jackets in July 2021 and re-signed him soon afterward. Bowman saw him as a key piece who could return his aging club to championship glory. However, the club continued to decline, forcing Davidson to rebuild when he took over as GM in March 2022.
Jones said his contract won’t be easy to move. He’s earning an average annual value of $9.5 million through 2029-30. His full no-movement clause gives him total control over potential trade destinations.
Nevertheless, a trade remains possible. On Jan. 16, TSN’s Darren Dreger reported teams were calling the Blackhawks to inquire about Jones’ availability. The Hockey News’ Adam Proteau noted he still has value as a big-minute, puck-moving defenseman.
Proteau believed trading Jones could happen if the Blackhawks retained part of his average annual cap hit. That was before the NHL and NHLPA released their three-year projection for the salary cap suggesting significant increases to come.
The off-season might be the best opportunity for the Blackhawks to move Jones. The Hockey News’ Rob Couch listed the Winnipeg Jets, Carolina Hurricanes and Columbus Blue Jackets as potential trade destinations this summer. But we can’t rule out a three-team deal sending him to a contender by the March 7 NHL trade deadline.
Leafs, Avalanche, Canadiens And Bruins Trade Speculation
Meanwhile, as NHL clubs prepare for the resumption of the schedule following the 4 Nations Face-Off, here’s a brief look at other recent trade speculation.
Jonas Siegel of The Athletic thinks the Toronto Maple Leafs should throw caution to the wind to address their roster needs by the trade deadline. He pointed out that stars Auston Matthews, William Nylander and Mitch Marner aren’t getting any younger and wondered if management would be willing to move their top prospects and their 2026 first-rounder for effective help.
Proteau thinks the Colorado Avalanche wouldn’t surprise anyone if they’re buyers for depth at the trade deadline. The Denver Post’s Sean Keeler believes the Avalanche still need a defenseman or two, plus some help at center. Before they can address that, they must determine whether sidelined captain Gabriel Landeskog will return before the end of the season. They have $4.76 million in cap space, but that will vanish if the 32-year-old left winger comes off the long-term injured reserve before the playoffs.
Stu Cowan of The Montreal Gazette believes the Canadiens 1-7-1 slump before the 4 Nations break puts them into “hard sell” position by the trade deadline. He expects UFA-eligible players, such as Jake Evans, Joel Armia, David Savard and Christian Dvorak, will be shipped out by March 7.
RG.Org’s James Murphy reported a source claimed the Boston Bruins are trying to determine where Morgan Geekie fits into their long-term plans. The 26-year-old left winger is an RFA this summer with arbitration rights. He’s drawing interest from playoff contenders and rebuilding teams.
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