5. Seth Jones
Right Defense, Chicago Blackhawks
Age: 30
Stats: 38 GP, 6 G, 20 A, 26 Pts
Contract: 5 years remaining, $9.5 million AAV
Scoop: Jones verbalized for the first time this week that he’s talking to the
Blackhawks about options to potentially play for a winner. Do the massive salary cap increases coming make it easier for the Hawks to move Jones? Maybe. At $9.5 million, Jones will count for just 8 percent of the cap three seasons from now. Yes, he will be 33 then, but he is such a gifted and effortless skater there shouldn’t be any concern on the age curve chart. Jones has averaged 25:18 over four seasons in Chicago. He is a fine defenseman, just an overpaid one, and the Blackhawks are willing to be creative to move a player who doesn’t necessarily line up with their timeline.
6. Casey Mittelstadt
Center, Colorado Avalanche
Age: 26
Stats: 57 GP, 9 G, 23 A, 32 Pts
Contract: 2 years remaining, $5.75 million AAV
Scoop: Given that both Mittelstadt and Bowen Byram are on our Targets board, it’s fair to say that neither side has been enthralled with the one-for-one swap that was one of the true surprises of Deadline 2024. Unlike Byram, Mittelstadt is at least under contract for two seasons beyond this one, so he would provide a little cost certainty moving forward. He just hasn’t quite been a fit, or as productive, in Jared Bednar’s lineup and we’re told the
Avalanche are willing to shake things up if they can find the right deal.
7. Bowen Byram
Left Defense, Buffalo Sabres
Age: 23
Stats: 54 GP, 7 G, 22 A, 29 Pts
Contract: Pending RFA, $3.85 million AAV
Scoop: It’s been a bit of an odd tenure for Byram in
Buffalo. He arrived at last year’s deadline in exchange for Casey Mittelstadt and seemed genuinely excited to be part of the solution. Byram has played well. And yet, he has been eligible to sign a contract extension since July 1 and is still on track to be a restricted free agent. There’s been no shortage of teams calling as a result.