Around the NHL - 2024-25 season.

[Lunatik]

Hawks still made out like gangbusters there imho

Seth Jones might be the most underrated defenseman in the NHL at this point in time. People act like he's awful, hell so many were claiming he was untradeable... but he's still a legit #2 RHD that is always a lock for a 40+ point pace (he missed 1x in the last 9 years)... he was a victim of playing for the Hawks, a team that has literally not even won 100 games since he was traded there. He was the lipstick on the pig that is the Blackhawks.

As for teh return, that first could easily be 27-32 next year, and Spencer Knight has a lot of question marks and has been nothing short of average since turning pro. He looked great at BC, but he's yet to standout as a pro, even in the AHL. I do think he could be good still, but there is also a chance the Panthers ruined him by rushing him.

I think it's good for both teams, I don't think either team made out like gangbusters.

 

[Sparky93]

Seth Jones might be the most underrated defenseman in the NHL at this point in time. People act like he's awful, hell so many were claiming he was untradeable... but he's still a legit #2 RHD that is always a lock for a 40+ point pace (he missed 1x in the last 9 years)... he was a victim of playing for the Hawks, a team that has literally not even won 100 games since he was traded there. He was the lipstick on the pig that is the Blackhawks.

As for teh return, that first could easily be 27-32 next year, and Spencer Knight has a lot of question marks and has been nothing short of average since turning pro. He looked great at BC, but he's yet to standout as a pro, even in the AHL. I do think he could be good still, but there is also a chance the Panthers ruined him by rushing him.

I think it's good for both teams, I don't think either team made out like gangbusters.

Yes, but the reality is, even at 7 million, he's a 30 year old defenseman, with 5 years left, that has only actual hit 40 points once since 2019. I'm not saying he's terrible but the cap increase and retention is the only thing that made this deal possible. Makes you wonder about the future of Bennett. I àlmost wonder, given the relatively cheap cost to aquire, if this isn't a rental/flip scenario, at the Flames could be in on.

 

[Darth Vladar]

Seth Jones might be the most underrated defenseman in the NHL at this point in time. People act like he's awful, hell so many were claiming he was untradeable... but he's still a legit #2 RHD that is always a lock for a 40+ point pace (he missed 1x in the last 9 years)... he was a victim of playing for the Hawks, a team that has literally not even won 100 games since he was traded there. He was the lipstick on the pig that is the Blackhawks.

As for teh return, that first could easily be 27-32 next year, and Spencer Knight has a lot of question marks and has been nothing short of average since turning pro. He looked great at BC, but he's yet to standout as a pro, even in the AHL. I do think he could be good still, but there is also a chance the Panthers ruined him by rushing him.

I think it's good for both teams, I don't think either team made out like gangbusters.

At the end of the day, Seth is still north of 30, the Hawks get to free up $7M off their cap, and bring in a 23-year goalie, and another 1st, which gives them two in each of the next two drafts. And this was a guy who said publicly that he wanted out, so there was a bit of pressure to move him by the deadline. There was a point in time where Seth’s was thought to be one of the more untradeable contracts in the league (that distinction is Darnell Nurse’s alone now lol). This is as good or better than the Hawks could have hoped for given the circumstances imho. The Panthers may be a better team for the relative short term, but this all but guarantees that Benny and Ekblad will be on the way out when their deals are up at the end of the season.

 

[Lunatik]

Yes, but the reality is, even at 7 million, he's a 30 year old defenseman, with 5 years left, that has only actual hit 40 points once since 2019. I'm not saying he's terrible but the cap increase and retention is the only thing that made this deal possible. Makes you wonder about the future of Bennett. I àlmost wonder, given the relatively cheap cost to aquire, if this isn't a rental/flip scenario, at the Flames could be in on.

When you have to include covid shortened years to try and make your point about 40 points, you should re-evaluate. In that time he's 0.55 PPG and his average with Chicago is slightly higher.

As for his age, he's not had any major injuries and he's not a bruiser, so there is no reason to think he's going to fall off.... and in 5 years, 7m will be what 3rd liners are getting. When Ras hit UFA, he's going to get 8+ for longer than 5 years. Bottom line is this is a better deal than they'd have gotten if they were to sign a UFA of Jones's caliber.

They essentially gave up 2 first round picks, I'm not sure what world that is "relatively cheap", the chances of them flipping him are none. Florida was a preferred destination for Jones, he's not going to waive his NMC again.

Also they should have lots of room to sign Bennett. They have no big name RFAs, no extensions are kicking in, Yandle's 1.2m buyout penalty is coming off the books and the cap is rising 7.5m. Bennett and Ekblad are their only major UFAs and that 7.5m is more than enough to give them both raises. They could literally pay them both 10m and still be able to replace minor FAs with ones of the same cost.

At the end of the day, Seth is still north of 30, the Hawks get to free up $7M off their cap, and bring in a 23-year goalie, and another 1st, which gives them two in each of the next two drafts. And this was a guy who said publicly that he wanted out, so there was a bit of pressure to move him by the deadline. There was a point in time where Seth’s was thought to be one of the more untradeable contracts in the league (that distinction is Darnell Nurse’s alone now lol). This is as good or better than the Hawks could have hoped for given the circumstances imho. The Panthers may be a better team for the relative short term, but this all but guarantees that Benny and Ekblad will be on the way out when their deals are up at the end of the season.

I said it's good for both, I'm just saying it's not a steal by any means, for either side.