The 2024-25 NHL season is heating up. However, there are always the bottoms of each table that are still struggling to get up on their feet with the campaign almost half over. Indeed, the fingers are being pointed toward the Chicago Blackhawks, who are having another troubling season. Currently, they are in the last position in the Western Conference’s Central Division, and surely the players aren’t having a great time.

Out of 46 games played, the Blackhawks have only accumulated 15 wins. Indeed, this is really saddening for the fans and the players who are giving their best to bring their top. However, the poor performance of the historic team might cost them their star defenseman, who is with them on an eight-year contract with an annual average value of nearly $10 million. Indeed, he might consider joining the Dallas Stars and might push them to the Stanley Cup level.

This is a wake-up call for the Chicago Blackhawks

The Stanley Cup Playoffs will start after a few months, and there’s little to no hope for the Chicago Blackhawks to make a comeback in the current season. But what about the Dallas Stars? How are they doing? The team is currently second in the same conference and division as the Blackhawks and has secured 29 game wins with 46 games played. The Stars are pursuing the Winnipeg Jets, who hold the top spot in the division, and they could challenge them with a few wins in the future.

Some NHL stars, such as Seth Jones, who are currently with the Blackhawks, see this as an ideal chance to transfer to a team that is vying for the Stanley Cup. We’re talking about the Dallas Stars, who are performing at the top in the current season. According to The Hockey News, the Blackhawks defenseman has an average ice time of 24:43 and can be a valuable asset to a team’s offense, with 13 assists and 16 points in the 29 games. However, there’s a certain point to note when it comes to his eight-year contract with the Blackhawks, which will end during the 2029-30 season.

Now that’s concerning for the player, who will be out of his prime in a few seasons, especially since any possible trade is complicated by Jones’ no-movement clause and salary cap issues. Does he really want to continue with the Blackhawks? While Jones can make the decision to leave the team, it ultimately depends on their general manager, Kyle Davidson, who may propose a strategy. Indeed, the defenseman carries a $9.5-million annual salary, and there’s a lot more time for his contract to end. However, Jones could thrive on a Stanley Cup contender team, giving the Blackhawks nearly $10 million to spend elsewhere.

Jones leaving the team, where he has spent so many seasons with a historic fanbase, will be a punch to the guts, but currently, the Blackhawks are in no position to chase that glorious cup, which the defenseman will surely want to have his hands on. However, in the end it all comes down to the defenseman to make his decision, as he’s been in the league for a long time.

A decision that might be the final one for the defenseman

Throughout his NHL career, Seth Jones has been with several teams like the Nashville Predators, Columbus Blue Jackets, and Chicago Blackhawks. But none of them have won the Stanley Cup during his contract. Indeed, his closest experience was during his tenure with the Blue Jackets, when they qualified for the 2019 Stanley Cup playoffs. Back in 2021, when he signed his contract with the Blackhawks, he fell under scrutiny from the community, as the historic team lacked performance, and Jones was also a top-tier defenseman back then.

The 30-year-old will be spending some seasons in the NHL, but he still has to make tough decisions. The rumors of him going to the Dallas Stars are not new, because he spent his developmental years training in the area. Indeed, the son of NBA star Popeye Jones might not be a native, but the fans of the Stars won’t mind him being in the squad while their team might compete for the current season’s Stanley Cup. Only time will tell!