The Chicago Blackhawks have traded Seth Jones and a 2026 fourth-round pick to the Florida Panthers for a conditional 2026 first-round pick and goaltender Spencer Knight.
Chicago will also retain $2.5 million on Jones’ contract over the next five seasons which works out to roughly 26.3% of Jones’ salary. The conditions on the first-round pick are that it can slide to 2027 should Chicago not have their 2026 first-round pick due to conditions on the pick from a separate trade.
In this deal, Chicago locks up their final retention slot for the 2024-25 season after previously retaining salary in a trade sending Jake McCabe to the Toronto Maple Leafs and a blockbuster trade that happened this season sending Mikko Rantanen to the Carolina Hurricanes.
Fortunately, the Blackhawks will free up the two retained salary slots at the end of the 2024-25 season.
At face value, retaining salary for five seasons should demand a steep price, but Chicago received a highly touted goaltender and a first-round pick in return.
Jones, 30, has another five years on his contract after this season, but a 6-foot-4 right-shot defenseman isn’t available every day come trade deadline day. With the salary retention, Florida only has $7 million of Jones’ contract on the books.
The former fourth overall draft selection by the Nashville Predators in 2013 made it known that he wanted to be traded to a contender this season, and reports surfaced tonight that there was traction gained in a trade sending him to Florida.
Jones has split his NHL time between the Predators, Columbus Blue Jackets, and the Chicago Blackhawks before being shipped to Florida.
ITR 27: Trade Season Begins – Inside The Rink
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