The Chicago Blackhawks are a long way away from their Cup-winning glory days. In the Central Division, the Blackhawks find themselves at the very bottom, with a paltry return of 41 points from 55 games. That’s nearly half the points that the table-topping Winnipeg Jets have with 81. To Hawks fans, it may seem like the franchise has been in a perpetual state of rebuild since their last Stanley Cup win in 2015. But it’s not for a lack of effort, and it appears the Hawks’ front office is finessing an exciting trade soon.

As the NHL trade deadline looms on March 7, 3 p.m. ET, anticipation builds among players and teams eager for potential opportunities. For someone like Seth Jones, this could be the pivotal moment to break free from the Blackhawks and join a team poised for a shot at the Stanley Cup. “I still have some good years ahead. I want to hope to maybe be in a situation where I’m competing for a Stanley Cup, at least playing some meaningful games in May and hopefully June,” said Jones.

At this moment, this remains a rumor, but the possibility has sparked considerable debate among fans. What is the reason for that? Although Jones stands out as an excellent defenseman, the possibility of bringing in a younger player is enticing for fans of a team in rebuild. On the Blackhawks subreddit, a Bleacher Nation article that explored a new destination for Jones was well received by fans.

Now, what are the defenseman’s statistics? During the ongoing 2024-25 season, he has played in 38 games, netting 6 goals, providing 20 assists, and totaling 26 points. Those are good numbers for a defenseman! Especially for one playing on the current Blackhawks team. As the Chicago Blackhawks face the potential loss of their star defenseman, what has been the community’s response?

Discussions abound regarding Seth Jones’ potential new home

In the realm of the NHL, speculation reigns supreme until an official announcement is made by the team or the player involved. Nonetheless, the community remains receptive to the possibility of Seth Jones leaving. One Reddit user expressed, “I would love getting Drysdale for Jones.” It’s no wonder that fans are only thinking of the future, considering the state the Hawks are in.

Another fan echoed this sentiment. “We need a guy to play with Bedsy, Korchinski is our Drysdale, if and when we trade Jones we should target a young g winger,” emphasizing the need to bring in younger players that the franchise can rebuild around.

But of course it all depends on where Jones himself wants to go. “Seth will want to go to a contender. He’s not going to swap bottom of the Central for bottom of the Metro.” A different fan remarked, “Casey Mittelstadt from Colorado or Jamie Drysdale from Philadelphia could be interesting.”

While fans speculated about their dream scenarios and trade targets, others put forward some alternate trade destinations. Destinations that not everyone could get behind. “I think Boston is an interesting choice now that McAvoy is likely out for the remainder of the season.” A response to this take? “Boston is more likely to miss the playoffs than make it. Plus they don’t exactly look like they’re going in a positive direction the next 5 years,” another user commented, highlighting that Jones wanted to leave specifically to compete for a Cup.

With the NHL trade deadline rapidly approaching, Seth Jones is not short of options. For the Chicago Blackhawks, this is an important transfer that could possibly be what it takes to revitalize them. But of course it all depends on where Jones’ heart lies and what the Hawks can get in return. It’s an interesting situation that will only continue to develop in the coming days.