November 23, 2024

Chicago Blackhawks to acquire Seth Jones from Columbus Blue Jackets

Columbus #Columbus

6:58 PM ET

  • Emily KaplanESPN

    Close Emily Kaplan is ESPN’s national NHL reporter.

  • The Columbus Blue Jackets have agreed to trade Seth Jones to the Chicago Blackhawks, sources said, and the veteran defenseman will sign an eight-year extension with an average annual value of $9.5 million with his new team.

    The Blackhawks are receiving a first-round pick (No. 32 overall) in Friday night’s draft as part of the deal as well as the Blue Jackets’ sixth-rounder in 2022, sources said. It wasn’t immediately clear what package was being sent to Columbus.

    Jones, 26, is in the final year of a six-year, $32.4 million contract that pays him $5.4 million annually. He told the Blue Jackets he wanted to test free agency next summer, which instigated a trade.

  • 3hGreg Wyshynski

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    The Blue Jackets hold three first-round picks in Friday’s NHL entry draft.

    Jones was originally drafted No. 4 overall by the Nashville Predators in 2013. He was traded to Columbus in 2016, his second NHL season, for center Ryan Johansen.

    Jones carried a 10-team no-trade list.

    The Blackhawks recently traded a franchise cornerstone, defenseman Duncan Keith, to the Edmonton Oilers. As part of the trade, Chicago acquired defenseman Caleb Jones — Seth Jones’ brother.

    In 381 career NHL games, Jones scored 50 goals and 173 assists while averaging more than 24 minutes a night. He finished fourth in Norris Trophy voting in 2018.

    Jones is expected to be a strong candidate for the 2022 U.S. Olympic team, should the NHL and NHLPA complete a deal with the IOC for NHL players to return after skipping the 2018 Olympics. Blackhawks general manager Stan Bowman is serving as GM of Team USA.

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