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One of Stan Bowman's final gifts to the Chicago Blackhawks organization before his termination was trading for and subsequently extending the defenseman who's next up in our player grades. Seth Jones arrived in Chicago via Columbus in a draft-day trade back in 2021. Fans weren't thrilled with the move at the time, but Jones responded well with a 51-point season and over 26 minutes of ice time per night.
Jones' ice time regressed in 2022-23, but he still averaged nearly 24:30 per night. His offensive numbers declined, but a decent 37-point season followed over 72 games. In 2023-24, more was expected from Seth Jones after Jake McCabe was traded and he was needed to be the top guy on both sides of the ice.
Story of the Season
Seth Jones' 2023-24 season was plagued by some injuries as he suited up for 67 games. Jones managed 31 points (eight goals, 23 assists) with backloaded production. Although his numbers weren't great, Jones was producing on a Blackhawks team that was deprived of offense.
Jones deserves some respect on his name. He was on a 39-point pace had he played a full season. Furthermore, he helped carry the offense down the stretch. In the final 20 games of the season, Jones posted seven goals and six assists. Expected to be a shooter from the blue line, Jones really delivered in the latter part of the season and could build off of that number in the 2024-25 campaign.
Jones' production was certainly affected by the Blackhawks' lack of team offense and the ask for him to excel on both ends of the ice. Entering the 2024-25 season, more talent and defensively focused players on the blue line should give Jons more offensive opportunities.
Player Grades
Jonnie Nonnie's Grade: B+
Seth Jones receives far too much backlash for a capable No. 1 defenseman. Yes, everybody knows he carries a large salary cap hit. Jones remained mostly steady on the back end and chipped in 31 points all while eating the most minutes per game of any Blackhawks skater. In doing so, he helped Alex Vlasic flourish into a shutdown blue-liner, which is a major boost to the organization. In fact, I enjoyed Jones' contributions so much that he'd get an A from me if not for an early-season IR stint that cost him several games.
Tony Marchese's Grade: B+
There's been a lot of talk from both of my Four Feathers cohosts this season about respecting Seth Jones' game. There's a good reason for that. If you separate the albatross of a contract from the body of work in the 2023-24 season, you'll find yourself talking about a top-pair defenseman on just about every NHL team, one who can log over 25 minutes a night and put up 30-plus points a season. A little more physicality from Jones would be nice to see, but overall he's almost exactly the type of defenseman that Blackhawks fans were crying for the organization to add to the team a few years ago. A solid B+ effort from one of this team's veteran leaders.
Ron Luce's Grade: B+
Respect Seth Jones. A train that I will be your conductor for entering the 2024-25 season, Jones needs to be appreciated. He is absolutely a No. 1 defenseman, has plenty of offensive upside, and is becoming a leader on this team. In a season with a much better supporting cast around the few franchise faces, Jones should improve on his numbers from 2023-24. If he does, Ron Luce may become unbearable. Thanks to an early injury, he also is a tick below an A for me and gets a B+.
What's On Tap Next?
Jones is one of the surefire players on the roster for years to come. Once again repping alternate captain status, Jones will be expected to contribute offensively, log big minutes, and be a true No. 1 defenseman for the Hawks. While Jones remains in his prime, he will surely be able to deliver on those asks. Perhaps a far better statistical season is in store for the veteran.
Tell us if you agree with our grades! What would you give Seth Jones? Let us know at @FourFeathersPod on X and Instagram!
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TODAY'S BEST
Steven Stamkos linked to the Montreal Canadiens
Although the Canadiens are off to a great start this season, securing a second center remains a priority for the organization. Could Steven Stamkos fill that role in Montreal? Jeff Marek, on the Sekeres Price podcast, discussing the rumor that the forward is headed for Vancouver, believes that the Habs might also be interested in acquiring him to replace Patrik Laine. It might be a nice publicity stunt to bring a veteran like Stamkos to Montreal, but I’d be really surprised if the organization made that move. The problem is, the veteran has been a shadow of his former self since arriving in Nashville, and at 35, you really have to wonder if his best years are behind him. After a sub-par season in which Stamkos scored 53 points, including 27 goals, plus a minus-36 rating, the forward has just one goal, one assist and a minus-6 rating in thirteen games so far this year. The main thing we’d replace Laine with Stamkos is his problems on the ice. Not to mention that the former Lightning star still has more than two years left on his deal, worth an average of $8 million a year. Even if the Predators agreed to pay 50% of his salary, it’s too long and too expensive a contract for a player in decline. It’s not a gamble worth taking, as I don’t think the veteran can regain his former form at 35, and his acquisition is likely to be a problem for the organization to manage. And that’s even if Nashville were to ask for very little in return for Stamkos. What’s more, I’d be really surprised to see Kent Hughes do this deal. Acquiring a declining veteran of uncertain performance with a very bad contract is the antithesis of everything we’ve seen from the general manager since his arrival in Montreal. In Overtime – Lions defeat. – The Canes are one to watch. – He’s on fire! – Ouch! – MLB in a nutshell. – He’s really dominant. – What a kick!
Seahawks GM's comments offer clue at potential NFL trade deadline partners
If there was any question about whether the Seattle Seahawks should be buyers or sellers going into the NFL trade deadline, last night's crushing victory over the Washington Commanders answered it. After eight games played, Seattle has a top-five scoring offense, a top-five scoring defense and a special teams unit that's making high-impact plays routine. That gives the Seahawks all the reason in the world to be aggressive at the trade deadline, and the latest reporting suggests that's exactly what they're going to do. General manager John Schneider may have offered a hint in his pre-game radio hit with KIRO, saying that the Seahawks spoke with teams at the Maryland-Indiana game on Saturday. That give us an idea of who they might be dealing with, based on the reports of the other teams who sent personnel to that game. That includes the San Francisco 49ers, the New York Jets, the Carolina Panthers, the Cleveland Browns and the Washington Commanders, who may have had some extra face time with the Seahawks during last night's game. We can safely cross the 49ers off the list of potential trade partners, but we can't do that with any others. The one question mark is the Panthers - and nobody seems to know which way they're leaning. Carolina is a surprise 5-4 after shocking the Green Bay Packers on Sunday, but the gap between the Panthers and the NFC teams currently on pace for a playoff spot is pretty massive. That makes the Jets, Browns and Commanders the most likely candidates to make a deal with the Seahawks from this list but we also have to assume they're talking with other teams. Pete Carroll's Raiders are another obvious potential trade partner based on their relationship and the fact that they're 2-6 going into the deadline. The Seahawks have also had a long history of making deals with the Philadelphia Eagles, who need cornerback help an have reportedly been considering a deal for Riq Woolen. On that note, the math may have changed last night due to the injuy to Josh Jobe, who was ruled out early with a concussion. Woolen responded with his best game of the season - which might be just enough to convince the Seahawks to keep him around for the playoffs.
Jerry Jones reveals Cowboys made surprise trade ahead of MNF vs. Cardinals
During an appearance on SiriusXM, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones confirmed Dallas made a trade Monday. However, Jones reportedly refused to reveal who the Cowboys had acquired. “Cowboys owner Jerry Jones @SIRIUSXM just said Dallas has made a trade and could possibly make a couple of more before tomorrow’s deadline,” The Athletic‘s Jon Machota wrote on X. “He declined to share who is involved in the trade. Jones: ‘Immediately it will have him on the field and it will address some of the things that have been our shortcomings.'” The NFL trade deadline is Tuesday at 4 p.m. ET. With a 3-4-1 record, the Cowboys are a middling NFL team this season thus far. Perhaps a trade could help the Cowboys hit their stride as they head into the back half of the season. Nonetheless, many Cowboys fans expressed their anxieties online about Jones’ comments. In fairness, Jones left fans shell-shocked earlier this fall when he traded star EDGE Micah Parsons to the Green Bay Packers, in exchange for two first-round picks and three-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Kenny Clark. “We have two kinds of capital or currency in the NFL,” Jerry Jones said at the time. “One of them is draft picks. The other is the financial because every team is limited to the same amount of resources to spend, and having said that, Micah enabled us to have four, possibly as many as six players, for the future. That’s a good trade when you need numbers. I’ll take the numbers every time.” As of this report, it’s not only unclear who the Cowboys traded for, but what they gave up in the deal. The team needs defensive assets. The Cowboys are allowing 404.6 yards per game, the second-most in the NFL, only better than the Cincinnati Bengals. While the Arizona Cardinals are entering Monday’s contest on a five-game losing streak, Dallas shouldn’t overlook the matchup. The Cardinals have lost their last five games by a combined 13 points. Moreover, the Cardinals held fourth-quarter leads in all five games. If Dallas isn’t prepared on Monday, Arizona will be ready to pounce on the opportunity. The Cowboys and Cardinals will square off at 7:15 p.m. CT on Monday. The game will air live on ABC and ESPN. Dallas fans will keep their ears peeled for any mention of a new name on their team’s roster.
Dolphins’ Jaelan Phillips trade draws sobering Mike McDaniel reaction
The Miami Dolphins’ season has not gone as planned. Through nine weeks, they are 2-7 and near the bottom of the AFC. Any aspiration of playing in the postseason is a thing of the past. That reality prompted the stunning trade of Jaelan Phillips to the Philadelphia Eagles on Monday. The Dolphins landed a 2026 third-round pick for Phillips, whom they drafted in the first round in the 2021 NFL Draft. After the trade was announced, Miami head coach Mike McDaniel was asked for his thoughts. He did a great job putting it into perspective, as captured by ESPN reporter Marcel Louis-Jacques. “That part of the business, I absolutely despise in terms of having to say goodbye to a player,” McDaniel said. “It was a very healthy conversation, and it was understood that sometimes the best interests of a team long term doesn’t overlap with the interests in one game for one player.” McDaniel did address how you can avoid this type of scenario, and that is by winning. Unfortunately, that is something Miami has not done much of. After being drafted 18th overall four years ago, Phillips had an immediate impact. He posted 8.5 sacks and 42 total tackles during his rookie season. The former Miami Hurricane edge rusher then had seven sacks the following season. But over the last few years, injuries have derailed his ability to help the Dolphins’ defense. Phillips played in a total of 12 games over the course of the 2023 and 2024 NFL seasons. But thus far this year, he has remained healthy and played each week, racking up a trio of sacks. The Eagles have a clear need on defense: edge rusher. So, this move makes a lot of sense for Philadelphia. Unlike recent seasons, the Eagles rank near the bottom in sacks. Phillips will be a free agent after the season. But even if he leaves after this year, the Eagles will receive a compensatory third-round draft pick. So, it seems like a win-win for Philadelphia. Meanwhile, the Dolphins kick off their rebuild.
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