The Florida Panthers have pulled off trades this NHL season that have got fans buzzing and talking! Well, the former Boston Bruins’ captain Brad Marchand may have gotten the big name, but there is still someone who has been the real game changer for the Panthers. Call it a wild one to say that he is one quiet yet massive force behind the Panthers’ recent surge! Not Marchand, not Magnus Hellberg—but indeed a showstopper!

A 3-2 shootout win for the Panthers, and the Buffalo Sabres just couldn’t take the pressure last night and collapsed. Well, what are the panthers actually doing? Grinding—building for the playoffs, but all thanks to Seth Jones, who might not have been the shining star entirely but took no time to spark the fire. And it all happened in the second period, when his smart shot off the end boards started the celebrations in front of the net alongside Carter Verhaeghe, who contributed with a goal and an assist–fans couldn’t speak much but revealed who’s the best pick after Marchand for their teams!

Well, the Blackhawks star came all the way from Chicago to Florida in the 2026 NHL draft’s first-round pick. “Seth is an elite veteran defenseman and a proven leader in our league. He has been one of the most consistent players of the past decade, serving as a reliable workhorse on both sides of the puck, and he will help our club continue to compete at the highest level,” Panthers general manager Bill Zito stated to the NHL after the trade. Indeed, Florida needed a defenseman who could make smart plays, eat minutes, and bring dominance to the ice, and it looks like they got it!

With just 19 games played so far, he has had two goals and six assists, and fans have their answers for who could be the next key figure after Marchand! It’s Jones, filling the missing space on defense for the Panthers’ team. And with every game played, his confidence grows, and so does the chatter amongst the community.

The Florida Panthers got a good one!

Jones is winning hearts in Florida, and fan reaction is overwhelmingly positive! With the Panthers pulling the trigger on acquiring the Blackhawks star, fans have been expressive in the best way possible. “I like him a lot; he’s got a lot of upside, and I’m glad we took on his contract,” one fan reflected, perhaps on the shift in sentiment around the deal that was once criticized. And then just another one chimed in and echoed the praise, stating, “I think he’s been an amazing addition to the team. He uses his size constantly and makes very few mistakes. After Marchand, I think he was the best pickup we had before the trade deadline.” Now that’s a straightforward way of blurting out the truth, you see—the best one after Marchand!

And the appraisals for his greatness continued to be acknowledged–“He’s been great for us so far,” came from another one, noticing the all-around value Jones has given to the Florida Panthers’ defense! Perhaps this got well justified when this fan offered a proper analysis for his play. They wrote, “He’s been really good. Exactly what we needed another huge defense to throw the body around. I noticed he’s more offensive minded which is nice. He’s really good at D but noticed he gets beat sometimes on rushes. 4 points and +2 in the last 8 games which the panthers have sucked in.” A detailed attention to the subtleties of his game!

Well, last but not least—“Who ever says he is slow – I just don’t see it. He seems to to have good closing speed. He also has good stick control and knocks pucks away from offenders. I have been very impressed!”—comes from the one who appreciated his skating ability. To say that all these reactions were more than just an excitement to see him on ice time but the signs of a true fanbase. And for the Panthers themselves? Perhaps bringing Jones to Florida wasn’t just a mere trade but taking forward the team’s legacy by acquiring some of the brightest stars of the league.