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Portland Winterhawks hope to add Seth Jones, top prospect for 2013 NHL draft

Neate Sager

Anyone possessed of the theory that Seth Jones might prefer a NHL-style schedule for his draft year might feel pretty smart tonight.

The Portland Winterhawks, who have had a good run of adding players who were already in the NCAA or seriously considering it, have acquired the WHL negotiating rights to the top defenceman in next year's NHL draft class from the Everett Silvertips. It goes without saying it would a huge coup for the Winterhawks if they could pry Jones away from North Dakota, possibly teaming him up on the blueline next season with offensive defenceman Derrick Pouliot, who's likely to be a first-rounder this summer. The 17-year-old Jones looked impresive in sparking Team USA to its fourth consecutive gold medal in the IIHF under-18 championship. With Everett's new GM, Garry Davidson, having previously been the Winterhawks' director of player personnel, it raises some pointed questions about who the Silvertips could demand in a trade if Jones wants to go to Portland.

From Nick Patterson

Jones' rights remain with Everett. This deal just gives Portland a window to talk with Jones to try to convince him to choose the Western Hockey League instead of the NCAA. Davidson declined to reveal either the conditions of the bantam pick or the length of the window. If the Winterhawks are able to convince Jones, then another deal will have to be worked out to move Jones' rights.

So this is disappointing news for the Tips. They may end up recouping something for Jones, a first-round pick who might have been a no-show. However, I'm sure they would much rather have had Jones in an Everett uniform. One has to wonder what effect the dismissal of former GM Doug Soetaert, who spent lots of time courting Jones and his family, played in this. (Everett Herald)

It is important to remember it's not a fait accompli for Portland coach-GM Mike Johnston. One would feel a lot safer betting on Johnston's chances of convincing Jones to cast his lot with the Winterhawks and WHL than on Everett, no offence. For pity's sake, two of the contributors to Portland's playoff run, captain William Wrenn and centre Cam Reid, joined the team in midseason from NCAA schools.

North Dakota has a lot to offer, including the chance to compete against older and more developed college players and having more opportunity to train between games. Ultimately, it probably boils down to Seth Jones choosing the team he feels put him in the best position to be drafted early and become a full-time NHLer at age of 19 or 20. Either route can work, notwithstanding those on either side of the endless bun fight who believe a particular route is better. Several defencemen have come through the CHL and turned pro early in recent years, but Jack Johnson (No. 3 overall in 2005 to Carolina, now with the Columbus Blue Jackets) and Erik Johnson (No. 1 in 2006 to the St. Louis Blues, now with the Colorado Avalanche) each fulfilled their two years with the U.S. national team development program and then went to college for at least a little while. Jones continuing on that track still seems plausible, if somewhat less so than it did a week ago.

Neate Sager is a writer for Yahoo! Canada Sports. Contact him at neatesager@yahoo.ca and follow him on Twitter @neatebuzzthenet.