Chiclets Rumor Boys Are Saying Seth Jones Is On The Trade Block

Good news, but not at all surprising. Seth Jones has not worked out in Chicago. That is abundantly obvious at this point. I liked the move when it was made. The Blackhawks were COMPLETELY devoid of defensemen and I thought acquiring Seth Jones could help get Toews and Kane back in the wild card mix for their last two years of their mega deals. Bowman had no idea how to build a roster and also somehow thought that Colliton was a better coach than Quenneville. I also think Bowman probably sold his bosses on the idea that Jones would be a piece for the present and the future and that the Hawks could build for the future around a core of Dach, Debrincat, and Jones. That was always foolish thinking. Those three were complimentary players. Not foundational players. It didn't work. It is what it is. Circumstances have changed. Jones had a good start to the year because the system they were running under Richardson covered his weaknesses (transition defense and the ability to prevent zone entries. Why he can't ever seem to properly gap up is beyond me). 

I had heard rumblings that the Blackhawks told Jones last summer that they would try to trade him, but he has a full no-move clause so the list of teams that could afford him and wanted him were short. If it is Dallas, which I think would be one of his preferred destinations, the Blackhawks might be able to get a deal done. It likely won't be a good deal. I would imagine it would require the Blackhawks eating a bunch of his $9.5M salary. Having $4.75M in dead cap for the next five years remaining on the Jones contract isn't ideal, but at this point I don't really think it matters. They're not close to being competitive and the only major cap hit coming their way is Bedard's extension this summer. I have a hard time imaging that $4.75 preventing them from doing any other major business in terms of internal extensions or acquisitions. Payroll is still low. None of the other draft picks under Davidson are going to command much more than what they gave to Vlasic. It'll be fine.

And if you're optimistic and projecting down the road a bit...

Vlasic-Levshunov

Korchinski-Rinzel

Kaiser/Del Mastro/Allan

And that is before they potentially draft Schaefer #1 overall this coming summer. It wouldn't make sense to have a player earning $9.5M to play 15 mins a night in the third pair (if all of those guys above end up earning a top 4 role). 

Jones might be just one of many dominoes to be traded this deadline. Someone might want veteran guys like Murphy, Martinez, and Brodie for a playoff push. By the end of the year the Blackhawks should be the youngest team in the league. That should be the goal anyways. 

I think the Blackhawks are in a bad spot right now with this rebuild. Culture seems off. Building culture with mercenaries doesn't work, in my opinion. They need these young guys to take ownership of the room. It's a long, windy, bumpy, road to the promiseland. If this rebuild were Oregon Trail they need to start strategically dumping supplies before they ford the river. Jones and his big heavy bag has to be one of the cuts.