Blackhawks deal defenceman Seth Jones to Panthers

Another veteran is on his way out of Chicago.

The Blackhawks traded defenceman Seth Jones to the Florida Panthers for goalie Spencer Knight and a Panthers first-round pick, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported on Saturday.

According to Friedman, the Blackhawks will retain approximately 26 per cent of Jones’ contract.

Jones, 30, is in the third year of an eight-year contract worth $9.5 million annually. He also holds a no-move clause, meaning he had to OK the trade to Florida.

He indicated earlier in February that he would welcome a move.

“I would like to give myself a chance to win in my career,” Jones told The Chicago Sun Times. “I know that the money is not an easy thing to move, and that’s what we’re figuring out.”

Jones was traded to the Blackhawks from the Columbus Blue Jackets, where he spent six seasons, in 2021 and signed the eight-year deal soon after.

But the Blackhawks swiftly lost franchise cornerstones Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews, along with budding offensive force Alex DeBrincat, which propelled the club into a full-scale rebuild. As a result, Jones’ output has suffered to the tune of a minus-102 rating in 255 games with Chicago.

Jones has seven goals and 20 assists in 42 games for the 17-35-7 Blackhawks.

He follows Taylor Hall, who was dealt to Carolina in January, as veterans departing the rebuilding Blackhawks.