The Chicago Blackhawks have granted Seth Jones’ trade request, sending the veteran defenseman to the Florida Panthers in a blockbuster deal late Saturday night.
In exchange, Chicago received goaltender Spencer Knight and a conditional 2026 first-round pick, while also sending a 2026 fourth-rounder to Florida.
The Blackhawks will retain $2.5 million of Jones’ $9.5 million cap hit for the next five seasons, with the Panthers taking on the remaining $7 million.
The trade marks the end of an era for Jones in Chicago, where he initially signed an eight-year extension upon his arrival in 2021 in a trade with the Columbus Blue Jackets.
trade alert🔔
📰 ➡︎ https://t.co/gjN0lotc2c pic.twitter.com/c2Bkza5FTG
— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) March 2, 2025
Although the initial plan was to build a strong contender around Jones and other veterans, a front-office overhaul and a shift toward rebuilding left the veteran defenseman looking at a struggling team and ultimately requesting a trade last week.
Blackhawks general manager Kyle Davidson acknowledged the move was a win on multiple fronts, something that didn’t look easy considering Jones’ large salary and the challenge of finding a trade partner.
“I think we really solidified the future of our goaltending position, gained some more draft capital that we can use on the market,” Davidson said after completing the trade, per The Athletic. “We made sure to find a home for Seth that accomplished what he was looking for-to go to a contender.”
Jones, who has recorded seven goals and 20 assists in 42 games this season, will step into an already deep defensive core in Florida.
Gustav Forsling and Aaron Ekblad lead the Panthers’ blue line so Jones’ role with the Panthers should be that of a No. 3 defenseman. On top of that, if Ekblad departs as a free agent this summer, Jones could transition into a top-two role next season, with Florida having him under contract through 2030.
