Amid another lost season, the Chicago Blackhawks have been fielding trade inquiries about one of their veteran defensemen.
With the team firmly entrenched in a rebuilding phase and holding the league’s worst record at 14-28-3, it comes as no surprise that general manager Kyle Davidson is entertaining offers for some of his key players.
According to NHL insider Darren Dreger, the Blackhawks have received calls from teams across the league asking about Seth Jones’ availability in trades before the March 7 deadline.
“Teams are calling, and they’re asking about Seth Jones’ availability,” Dreger said on TSN’s “Insider Trading” on Thursday. “It’s going to be something that we have to continue to watch as Kyle Davidson put some form of stamp in this fight through the rebuild of the Chicago Blackhawks.”
Jones, 30, is in the third year of an eight-year, $76 million contract he signed in 2021. The deal includes a full no-move clause, meaning the defenseman would need to approve any potential trade.
While this could complicate negotiations, Chicago’s struggles and recent fan reactions to Jones’ play following a turnover leading to a goal a few days ago may encourage Jones to consider a move.
The Blackhawks have dropped 10 of their last 12 games, with Jones recently bearing the brunt of fan frustration. He was booed during the 5–2 loss to the Calgary Flames on Monday and took accountability for it.
“It’s unfortunate,” Jones said after the game. “The losing obviously doesn’t help… Start with myself, and we can always find a way to be better.”
Through 28 games, Jones leads the Blackhawks in playing time averaging 24:43 minutes per game while he’s scored 16 points in 29 games. That said, Jones has posted a subpar minus-11 plus/minus rating.
Jones’ leadership and experience, however, coupled with his strong two-way play, make him an attractive target for contending teams looking to bolster their blue line ahead of the March 7 trade deadline, although the price to get him out of Chicago might be steep for most cap-constrained teams.
“(Jones) has a pile of years left at $9.5 million (per year). His contract doesn’t expire until 2029-30 and he has the full no-move clause,” Dreger said. “But he’s a quality defenseman and yes, teams are calling.”
