Blackhawks Rumors: Analyst Makes Bold Prediction For Seth Jones This Season

Tuesday, October 01, 2024

ESPN analyst Greg Wyshynski recently made a bold prediction about the Chicago Blackhawks' 2024-25 season, suggesting that defenseman Seth Jones could be traded. 

Jones, who averaged 25:29 minutes per game last season, carries a hefty $9.5 million cap hit that was once viewed as a burden. 

However, with the NHL salary cap expected to rise in the coming years, Wyshynski believes Jones' contract could become more manageable for teams looking for a top-pairing defenseman. 

"This could be the season where Jones gets moved if the right situation presents itself to GM Kyle Davidson," Wyshynski explained, noting the Blackhawks' emerging young talent like Connor Bedard and defensemen Kevin Korchinski, Ethan Del Mastro, and Nolan Allan.

Blackhawks reporter Tab Bamford echoed some of Wyshynski’s points but noted the challenges of replacing Jones' minutes. 

"There aren’t a lot of relatively young, right-handed defensemen on the market to replace him at 25 minutes per night," Bamford said. 

While Jones' performance in Chicago has faced criticism, particularly with his minus-90 rating over three seasons, Bamford pointed out the importance of Jones' role as a steady top-pairing option during the team's rebuild. 

Bamford raised three key factors in a potential trade: Jones finding a suitable team, Chicago trusting a young player to step into significant minutes, and receiving a return that benefits the team's long-term goals.

Wyshynski believes that with Davidson not tied to Jones’ acquisition, the Blackhawks could use this opportunity to clear cap space and give their young defensemen valuable NHL experience. 

"The higher the cap goes, the higher the possibility grows that someone would want to take on that contract for a top-pairing defenseman," Wyshynski noted. 

If the right offer materializes, this season could be the one where the Blackhawks decide to move on from their veteran defenseman.

Photo Credit: Robert Edwards-Imagn Images



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