The Blue Jackets will “do what we have to do” if they can’t re-sign Seth Jones, according to a report.https: //t.co/pXnbcpr1rd

– NHL.com (@NHLdotcom) May 30, 2021

Aaron Portzline: “Sources told the Athletic that the Columbus Blue Jackets, unless Seth Jones changes his mind, are expected to trade (him) this summer, most likely close to the NHL Draft in the end of July. #CBJ

– NHL News (@PuckReportNHL) May 30, 2021

While Duncan Keith may be the Blackhawks’ best defenseman on rebuilding, with young players with more players to come in the next few seasons, he’s a shadow of his old Norris caliber and isn’t much of a true anymore. # 1.

But what is a true # 1 defender? A No.1 typically plays the most minutes of any skater on the team and is adept at making ends meet while being primarily stellar defensively with the ability to consistently return the ice. Plus, a No.1 tends to play in all situations.

Enter Seth Jones. Over the weekend, Jones made it known that he has no plans to re-sign with the Blue Jackets once he becomes an unrestricted free agent. He has one year left on his current 6-year contract at $ 5.4 million and is expected to increase his salary in his next transaction.

Jones would fill Chicago’s need for a No.1 defender. Even though he would replace Keith as the team’s No.1, his personality and style is more like Keith’s former partner Brent Seabrook: tall , physique, strong skater, booming shooting and defensive awareness.

However, should the Hawks sue Jones? If the NHL didn’t have a salary cap and the team didn’t rebuild, the short answer is yes. By all means, do whatever it takes to get and then re-sign one of the best blueliners in the league. Jones will get a substantial return.

However, the ceiling is expected to be flat until further notice and the Hawks are ahead of a rebuild. Would Jones be affordable and not handcuff the team financially? The season after Jones becomes UFA is when Patrick Kane, Jonathan Toews and Keith do too.

Jones is currently ranked 46th for defenseman salaries and is set to land a new contract to place him in the top 10. It can be doubtful whether he gets the $ 11 million a year that Erik Karlsson and Drew Doughty receive. each receive the Sharks and Kings as the two highest paid D-men.

With $ 11 million probably the cap price, Jones more realistically gets what his peers in the rest of the top 10 get: Roman Josi, PK Subban and Alex Pietrangelo at $ 9 million or Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Thomas Chabot, Jacob Trouba, Brent Burns and John Carlson at $ 8 million.

As for the duration, 6-8 years seems likely according to the team that negotiates and signs Jones. And this is the kicker: this transaction is in two parts with the trade then re-signing it in the long term or else why give up assets for a rental, in particular by a non-competitor like the Hawks.

As mentioned earlier, a trade package to acquire Jones would be quite heavy and there will be a bidding war. An estimate of a possible package likely includes a combination of a first round pick, other high draft picks, top notch prospects and / or all-star roster players.

Could a Chicago package like this result in a deal:

* Dominik Kubalik
* Adam Gaudette (rights)
* Ian Mitchell
* Choice of 1st round 2021
* 2nd round pick 2021

Too small? Too much?

Worth it? It is not worth the trouble?

Perfectly sane? Are Looney Tunes Crazy?

The NHL Draft Lottery takes place this week, so the Hawks are unlikely to win it to pick the 1st overall. If that happens, would they pick Owen Power, who is supposed to be a future No.1 Defender? Does this change the calculation of the decision making on whether to sue Jones?

Let’s pretend the Hawks acquired Jones with this trading package above. Jones would help with a more appropriate positioning on the blue line so Keith doesn’t need to take on the load as the best defender and youngsters can develop with a true No.1 in the crease.

Kalynuk – Jones
Keith – Boqvist
Stillman – Murphy
Beaudin

This scenario assumes Calvin de Haan and Nikita Zadorov are with new teams next season, otherwise the blue line will fill up with veterans and knock out all youngsters, which would derail the youth movement completely. Just like ideas on how to relocate from Haan and Zadorov:

* Trade de Haan to the Red Wings for a 4th round pick in 2020
* Trade Zadorov (rights) at the Bruins for Jake DeBrusk

As the scenario above alludes, the timing for a successful trade and re-signing of an elite player at this stage of the rebuild may not be favorable if other staff decisions are not made. taken to ensure that the youth movement is always a priority and not. thrown out the window.

One final factor to keep in mind is that Jones has a modified no-trade clause meaning he submits a list of 10 teams he cannot be traded to. It’s unclear if the Blackhawks are on this list. If so, all of the above is not about Jones, but not about the need for a true No.1 defender.

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Rockford Updates

Matt tomkins

Thank you Matt Tomkins for being a part of our #Stateline community the past four seasons!

From your American League debut (1st pic) with us in 2017 to a big win in our 2021 home final (2nd pic), we appreciate the smiles and memories you made on and off the ice. pic.twitter.com/j7pvsw7ueV

– Rockford IceHogs (@goicehogs) May 28, 2021

Matt Tomkins moving on is neither surprising nor a blow to the depth of the Blackhawks goaltender. Retaining Tomkins would have given the IceHogs a veteran experience. Collin Delia could fill that role assuming he isn’t traded and earns the backup role in Chicago.

With Tomkins gone and Delia’s status questionable, the new Rockford goalkeeper tandem is likely Cale Morris and Arvid Soderblom with Tom Aubrun as 3rd string. Since Morris and Aubrun are on AHL deals and Soderblom is on an NHL, Soderblom is the only one eligible for the recall.

Moberg and Laavainen

While many of the critical dates for the 2020-2021 offseason have been pushed back, the mandatory June 1 signing for some players is still in effect.

Here is the list of players each club must sign by 5 p.m. ET next Tuesday or else they will lose their exclusive signing rights. pic.twitter.com/hQCw6NKBtw

– CapFriendly (@CapFriendly) May 28, 2021

Tomorrow is the deadline for NHL teams to sign certain prospects or their rights will expire. For the Blackhawks, defenders Cole Moberg (7th round 2019) and Roope Laavainen (4th round 2017) fall into this category. Moberg deserves to be considered, but not Laavainen.

Moberg is a no-nonsense defender and above all on defense. He protects the net, plays physically, skates relatively well, throws a solid pass to clear the area and gets shots at the net. He may be nothing more than an injury recall candidate to fill the 6/7 spot for the Hawks.

As for Laavainen, he has not moved the needle since it was written. No one would notice if the Hawks didn’t sign him. The same goes for defender Joshua Ess and winger Parker Foo. At most Ess could get an amateur try. Foo is in the KHL with his older brother Spencer.

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Prospect Updates

Lukas Reichel

Lukas Reichel was hit in the head and did not return to the game. I hope he is doing well. #Blackhawks #HockeyTwitter #HawksProspects #IIHFWorlds pic.twitter.com/vN5MJd0Qgd

– Chicago Prospects (@Chi_Prospects) May 26, 2021

After a scare last week with a blow to the head, Lukas Reichel spent the remainder of the game and was reportedly tested for concussion symptoms. He joined the German team on the ice for training yesterday. His team plays later today against the United States team.

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NHL Draft

This Wednesday, it’s the draft lottery to determine the order of selection of the top 16 picks in the first round of the 2021 NHL Draft. The Blackhawks have the 12th seed who has a 2.7% chance of winning the lottery to pick No. 1 overall for the first time since 2007.

More ideas and thoughts on the lottery plans will be posted on blogs later this week. As the draft nears July 23-24, expect blogs featuring conscripts for the Hawks to count wherever they draw during the draft lottery this week.

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See you soon on the boards!

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