The Chicago Blackhawks dealing Seth Jones is the trade that keeps on giving

The Chicago Blackhawks can thank former defenseman Seth Jones for a better first-round pick.

With his outstanding Game 7 performance helping the Florida Panthers eliminate the Toronto Maple Leafs, the Hawks will select 25th in the first round thanks to owning the rights to the Leafs' first pick.

The Hawks acquired the Maple Leafs' first-round choice in a 2023 trade that sent the contending Leafs Sam Lafferty and Jake McCabe. Those two did not help Toronto win the Stanley Cup, much like Jones helped prevent them from winning it all this year.

The Jones trade is the gift that keeps on giving since the Blackhawks got their goalie of the future along with better draft position.

It is unlikely general manager Kyle Davidson foresaw Jones scoring the first goal of a Game 7 rout, but it sure is a nice benefit.

Had the Maple Leafs finally won a Game 7, the Blackhawks would have picked as high as 28th and as low as 32nd. Moving up three spots can put the franchise in a better position to draft a better player.

Even though Jones' Chicago exit was not graceful, at least the Blackhawks were able to cash in on his trade value, even with his bloated salary. The Hawks got their No. 1 goalie of the future and the present in Spencer Knight and a future first-round pick.

Which means Hawks fans have to root against Florida next year in the Stanley Cup playoffs, much like they did with the Maple Leafs this year. Boy was it nice to see Jones indirectly paying the Hawks back with one of his best games of the year.

Also, Toronto's agonizing exit from the playoffs could mean the Maple Leafs are further motivated to let Mitch Marner walk in free agency. The Hawks benefitting from the Jones trade could indirectly continue if they can entice Marner to sign a massive free-agent deal in the offseason.

To fully benefit, the Hawks must hit on this draft pick they are getting from the Maple Leafs, which got better because a team in Florida went to Canada and owned an iconic hockey franchise. At least for now, the Blackhawks have some better draft capital to maybe entertain moving up to the top pick to ensure getting Michael Misa.

The Blackhawks could also leverage that pick along with some of their second-round picks to move up in the first round, much like the franchise did last year.

Getting a young netminder along with a first-round pick while only having to retain a portion of Jones' deal was already a major win. Then, moving up a couple of spots in the draft due in part to Jones, well, that is just an added bonus.