The Columbus Blue Jackets have agreed to trade Seth Jones and the 32nd pick in the 2021 NHL Draft to the Chicago Blackhawks. The early return is Adam Boqvist and the 12th selection in the 2021 NHL Draft. More details are still emerging about this deal. Jones also signed a seven-year extension worth a $9.5 million average value.
Extension with the Hawks believed to be 7 years. https://t.co/wvEjUpy0XW
— Darren Dreger (@DarrenDreger) July 23, 2021
Blue Jackets Trade Seth Jones to Blackhawks
The Blue Jackets completed a trade today with the Blackhawks. Columbus gets Adam Boqvist and the 12th choice in the 2021 NHL Draft while Chicago gets Jones and the 32nd pick.
Key Players
In Seth Jones, the Blackhawks get a minute-munching defenceman with plenty of experience taking long, arduous shifts. In the 2020-21 season, Jones scored five goals and 23 assists for 28 points, adding 26 minutes in penalties. Jones was fourth in total points for the Blue Jackets and 28th in scoring by defencemen. Those totals are just two points shy of his record in 2019-20, where he scored six goals and 24 assists for 30 points. Over his eight-year NHL career, Jones has played for the Nashville Predators and Columbus Blue Jackets In that time, he has 65 goals and 221 assists for 286 career points in 580 career games. He was originally drafted in the first round, fourth overall of the 2013 NHL draft by the Predators.
Boqvist does have the potential to be a top-four defenceman with the rebuilding Blue Jackets. He scored twice and added 14 assists in 35 games with the Blackhawks. The Swede was taken eighth overall in the 2018 NHL Draft.
What This Means for the Future
By trading Jones, the Blue Jackets have officially committed to a rebuild. He’s consistently handled the team’s toughest assignments, most notably the impressive 30-plus minute shifts he’d play against the Tampa Bay Lightning in the playoffs. With a fresh start, Jones can make a push for the playoffs and Cup contention with Chicago once again. The Blue Jackets, on the other hand, have secured a myriad of assets for the future.
As for the Chciago, they’ve secured a strong defenceman capable of handling tough assignments. Whether they play Jones on the top pairing or not remains to be seen. If utilized properly, Jones can be considered a solid shutdown defenceman. Some people would argue that Jones is overrated — but others simply say the numbers showcase isolated instances. Time will tell the tale for Jones. However, there is a worry about the length and value of that contract.
