Livescore
Seth Jones and the Chicago Blackhawks are discussing a potential trade that would give the veteran defenseman a chance to win in his career.
Jones knows “that money is not an easy thing to move, and that’s what we’re figuring out.” The 30-year-old is one of the highest paid defensemen in the NHL and is still under contract at $9.5 million AAV until 2030. That is not an easy contract to move at all, even if Jones is having a better season.
It is more than likely a trade involving Jones will have to happen in the summer as it is even tougher to move his kind of money mid-season, especially given he wouldn’t be a rental. Most of the teams with the highest amount of cap space this season are at the bottom of the standings, but there is some hope for the summer when some contenders have money freed up and the cap is rising to create more wiggle room for every team.
If Jones isn’t long for the Blackhawks, let’s look at some destinations where he could be traded to.
Three of the five teams with the most projected cap space next season at this time are either in a playoff spot or right on the cusp. These teams include the NHL leader in points, the Winnipeg Jets, the Carolina Hurricanes, and the Columbus Blue Jackets who sit one point out in the East.
The Jets have a number of free agents including Neal Pionk. If they can’t get him re-signed, the team will be looking for a top-4 right defenseman to replace him. Jones might be the best option to be brought in if the Blackhawks retain and Winnipeg can acquire him for less than what Pionk would be getting. Jones would be under contract through what is seemingly the Jets’ window to win.
The Hurricanes are not only going to have a lot of cap space freed up, $13 million of that is coming from two defensemen who are set to become UFAs after the season, Brent Burns and Dmitry Orlov.
The Hurricanes don’t like handing out massive contracts, but if they acquire one at a reduced price with team control for a number of years, that should be seen as a win. Jones could fit right into the role Burns has played, but do a better job at his age. Carolina is set to make the playoffs for the seventh consecutive season and by the way the team plays, that isn’t going to stop anytime soon.
The Blue Jackets would be an interesting one as that was the last team Jones played for, but he did have his best years there too. Columbus is on the rise with some very talented young players and I can’t imagine Ivan Provorov sticking around past this season. As David Jiricek was already traded, there will likely be a spot open in the top-4 on the right side for Jones to come back and even play with Zach Werenski and on the second power-play unit.
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