The Seth Jones trade paid off for both him and the Chicago Blackhawks

On March 1, 2025, the Chicago Blackhawks traded veteran defenseman Seth Jones along with a conditional fourth-round pick to the Florida Panthers for goalie Spencer Knight and a conditional first-round pick.

At the time, it looked like one of these teams won the trade. Now, it's clear that the trade worked out well for everyone.

Seth Jones was having a hard time in Chicago

The team was going through a rebuild, and he wasn't performing at his best.

He had 27 points (seven goals, 20 assists) in 42 games played with a -18 plus/minus with the Blackhawks this season. He expressed his frustrations in Chicago and wanted to be on a Stanley Cup contender.

The Florida Panthers were looking to make another deep playoff run, and they believed Jones could help. He fit right into their lineup and averaged 25:30 time on ice per game in the playoffs.

Jones finished the postseason with nine points (4 goals, 5 assists) in 23 games and had a +11 plus/minus, helping the Panthers win their second straight Stanley Cup.

For the Blackhawks, the trade was also a big step forward.

They got a young goalie with a lot of potential in Spencer Knight. In his debut with Chicago on March 3 against the Kings, the 24-year-old made 41 saves (16 of those were in the first period) in the Blackhawks 5-1 win. That performance gave fans hope that he could be the team's future goaltender.

Knight is now part of a young group of goalies that includes Arvid Soderblom and Drew Commesso. With more time, development and practice, he could become the starter the team has been looking for.

This trade helped out both teams in different ways. The Panthers got a veteran defenseman who helped them win another Cup. The Blackhawks added a young goalie who could be a key part for their future.

It's rare to see a trade help out both sides, but that's what happened.

Seth Jones wanted to be on a contender and wanted to win a Cup and that's what he got. Chicago wanted another young piece for their rebuild, and that's what they got. In the end, it was a fair deal that paid off for both teams.