Greg WyshynskiMar 1, 2025, 08:26 PM ET
- Greg Wyshynski is ESPN's senior NHL writer.
The Chicago Blackhawks sent defenseman Seth Jones to the Stanley Cup-champion Florida Panthers in a blockbuster trade on Saturday night.
The Panthers acquired Jones, 30, and a 2026 fourth-round pick from the Blackhawks in exchange for goaltender Spencer Knight and a 2026 conditional first-round draft pick. Chicago is retaining part of Jones' contract through 2030, bringing his annual cap hit for the Panthers to $7 million. Jones makes $9.5 million against the salary cap and is in the third year of an 8-year contract. The Blackhawks will retain $2.5 million on Jones through 2030.
The first-round pick slides to 2027 if the Panthers trade their 2026 first-rounder before this year's draft.
Jones is in his 12th NHL season, having played for the Nashville Predators, Columbus Blue Jackets and the Blackhawks. He has 27 points in 42 games this season, skating 24:30 per game. Chicago acquired him from Columbus in 2021. Jones was originally selected in the first round (fourth overall) of the 2013 NHL Draft by the Nashville Predators.
"Seth is an elite veteran defenseman and a proven leader in our league," Florida general manager Bill Zito, who was with the Blue Jackets when they acquired Jones from the Predators, said. "He has been one of the most consistent players of the past decade serving as a reliable workhorse on both sides of the puck, and he will help our club continue to compete at the highest level."
Jones had revealed recently that he had spoken to the Blackhawks about a trade out of Chicago, which has been in a prolonged rebuild. He had become more vocal recently about his dissatisfaction with the direction of the franchise.
"We're the exact same team right now as we were Game 1. It's pretty evident out there. We haven't made any strides to be a better, more simple hockey team, and it shows. We don't get a lot of wins because of that," he said this week, after a 2-1 loss to the Utah Hockey Club. "This has been almost four years of bottom of the league."
Knight, 23, the No. 13 overall pick in 2019, is in his fourth NHL season. He's 12-8-1 in 23 appearances, with a .907 save percentage.
