Blackhawks: Trading Seth Jones Isn't Worth It Yet

Seth Jones' name has come up in some trade rumors now that the Chicago Blackhawks have proven they are willing to be active already this season. Even though his name appears to be out there, I don't think trading the team's number one defenseman is worth it yet.

Jones' contract expires in 2030, which means that there are still five more full years after this one. He also has a full no-move clause attached to his contract for the entirety of the contract, making it very difficult or impossible to move him if he doesn't want to go anywhere else.

He is nowhere near being a buyout candidate yet, even though his $9.5 million AAV cap isn't great. Any trade rumor involving Jones might just be all talk by insiders or reporters as well. We won't really know unless Kyle Davidson comes out and says something or there is actually a move made.

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The salary cap is rising and the Blackhawks have a good deal of space to work with. Moving Jones while the team is working towards coming out of a rebuild sooner than later would only set them back. Other than Alex Vlasic showing signs of being able to assume the role of number one defenseman temporarily, that doesn't mean he can over the course of the season and that the Blackhawks would be better off without Jones and his ability/production.

Say what you want about Jones, but he has five goals and 23 points in 33 games and has been great lately. He has two goals and nine points in the last six games and has logged over 24 minutes of ice time per night in four of them.

There is no way that any team in the NHL would be willing to not only pay to acquire Jones and his contract if he accepts a trade there, but to also be willing to take on his full contract. That would mean that if it got that far, the Blackhawks would be paying multi-millions to have their number one defenseman not play for them when the team is looking to start wining with Connor Bedard and the young core improving.

Jones is 30 years old and if he is performing at this age, there shouldn't be a drop-off as he's still near or at the top of his game. The Blackhawks are only going to get better which means that Jones is going to contribute to that and build value off of that as well. If interest is indeed in the Blackhawks' veteran defenseman now, it should be when more years have been taken off of his contract and he is more easily tradeable.

None of the Blackhawks' young defensemen are developed, which means it will be very difficult to fill the hole Jones would leave if moved. While it should be the case eventually, there's no need to rush a trade and hurt themselves.

Will the Blackhawks get more value and retain less for Jones with over five years left on his deal or with 2-4? I'm thinking the latter. The decision isn't up to me or even the team as it ultimately falls on Jones to decide where he wants to play. He earned that with the contract he signed. He may just continue to be a part of what the Blackhawks are building as he isn't hurting the cause. I don't expect him to be traded this season, but crazier things have happened.

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