One team said their expectation is that Jones’ preference is to play in Chicago, Dallas or Florida, although those aren’t his only options. Chicago has been mentioned most recently because of the Keith trade and while that clears up cap space to help make it happen, another source warned against reading too much into the
Caleb Jonesaspect as any sort of deal indicator. “That deal happened irrespective of Seth,” he said.
The
Blackhawks may be the front-runner. Guys love playing in Chicago. The concern is whether or not the team is close to real playoff contention, something Jones will have to weigh. The Flyers have been connected to Jones but shouldn’t be considered a front-runner as of right now.
The
Stars are a bit of a wild card here. They’d have to move some money to make it happen but would consider it if there was a trade to be made that Columbus liked. Dallas might be a more realistic option as a Jones destination if he makes it to free agency. As for the return, Blue Jackets GM Jarmo Keklainen wants to maximize this, especially considering the talent that has left the organization in recent years.
“He doesn’t need draft picks. He wants young players. Centermen,” said one executive. “Anybody who is going to give up assets will want permission to talk to him. (Kekalainen) is not in any rush.”
After a down season, it’s also fair to wonder how much Jones can realistically move the needle to push a team up a tier. He was widely regarded as a top 10 defender going into the 2020-21 season but delivered uncharacteristically poor results that now leave his status as a top-pairing defender in question. There’s a chance he can get back to that level but his current comps aren’t flattering, featuring a lot of names whose reputations outweighed actual results.