Elliotte Friedman Believes A Seth Jones Trade Is Mostly Player Driven

The Chicago Blackhawks may or may not trade Seth Jones before the March 7th deadline. It will be a topic surrounding the team until that day passes because Jones revealed it could happen last week. 

Jones makes $9.5 million against the salary cap and doesn’t necessarily produce like a player worthy of that number. He’s a good player but great players make that much money. 

Jones was paid for what he had done up to that point, and the contract looks bad in hindsight. It happens. However, you’d think that the  Hawks would be happy to trade that cap hit away if they can. 

However, Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet said on “32 Thoughts: The Podcast” that this trade could be more player-driven than team-driven if it were to happen. For a long time, it felt like the Hawks would have to beg Jones to waive his no-move clause but Friedman makes it seem like he wants out more than they want him out. 

Last week, a report by Ben Pope of the Chicago Sun-Times suggested that Jones talked about wanting to play for a contender possibly but the belief was that this was mutual. According to this report from Friedman, Jones is driving the bus. 

Friedman thinks the Hawks want to keep as many good players as they can as they develop Connor Bedard. It makes sense as the team will be better if there are more solid players around. If Jones were to leave, regardless of the feelings about his cap hit, the blue line would be worse off. 

Jones has every right to feel this way, it’s just surprising to hear that the Hawks might not want it as much as he does because of the contract. 

Playing for a team with a chance to win the Stanley Cup is better for Jones. That team would be able to use him properly and that could lead to him looking more like the player who earned a $9.5 million contract.

With all this information publicly available, the Hawks need to try to get him out. In their rebuilding process, they don’t need veterans who are outspoken about being unhappy. In the end, a trade would benefit everyone. 

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