Still a long shot trade candidate this season, the most important factor in getting a Seth Jones trade completed is figuring out how much of his contract will be retained by the Blackhawks. Jones makes $9.5 million against the cap and is in only the third year of an eight-year deal that expires after the 2029-30 season.
That's a lot of money for Chicago to hold on to for a long period of time, but with the news last week that the salary cap will rise to $95.5 million next season, then $104 million in 2026-27 and $113.5 million in 2027-28, the burden of retention becomes less significant and this factor could make Jones a more attractive trade asset for the Blackhawks.
Chicago doesn't have to worry about money as much as some other teams, and the most expensive salary years in Jones' deal will have passed by the end of this season. Including signing bonuses, Jones is due to earn $10.5 million next season, $8 million in 2026-27, and $7.5 million for the final three years of this contract.
But, again, this isn't just a salary dump and it would require the Hawks getting a top young asset or two for them to make the deal. But, if Chicago can get off the contract and another team feels it's getting decent value on a reduced AAV for Jones, this could happen. And Jones could use a fresh start.
From everything I've gathered, Chicago has had legitimate talks with the Dallas Stars about Jones. We'll have a better understanding where it leads through the 4 Nations Face-Off.
