Three-team trade scenario sends Seth Jones out of Chicago!

On Thursday evening, Darren Dreger reported on the latest edition of Insider Trading on TSN that teams were calling the Chicago Blackhawks and inquiring about the availability of defenseman Seth Jones. While the veteran blue liner is signed through 2029-30 with an average annual value of $9.5 million and has a full no-movement clause, there is a sense that a move could involved him ahead of the March 7 trade deadline. Dreger explained:

“I mean, that name is a surprise to me, but again, let’s not play with semantics here. It’s not like Kyle Davidson and the Chicago Blackhawks are shopping the defenseman. I mean, he’s got a pile of years left at $9.5 million AAV, his contract doesn’t expire until 2029-30 and he has the full no-move clause across the board. But look, he’s a quality defenseman, and yes, teams are calling and they’re asking about Seth Jones ’ availability. So it’s going to be something that we have to continue to watch as Kyle Davidson, again, put some form of stamp in this fight to the rebuild of the Chicago Blackhawks.”

However, one hurdle in the way of those teams are calling is obviously the number of dollars on Jones, which means a third team could get involved to spread the cap hit around. Clubs will most available space include the Columbus Blue Jackets, Calgary Flames, Anaheim Ducks, Nashville Predators and Buffalo Sabres.

The three-team trade scenario might however be more fitted to happened in the offseason, assuming Jones agrees to be moved.

A lot of teams out there are looking to add a top defenseman to their back end, and I’m not surprised the phone’s been ringing in Chicago for Jones. However, the numbers have to work and this might not be a trade that takes place ahead of this year’s deadline, or even… at all.