With the trade deadline creeping up, fans knew a blockbuster move was bound to shake things up—and, oh boy, did it deliver. Saturday was a busy day for trades, and right in the thick of it? None other than defenseman Seth Jones. There were a lot of trade rumors and finally the Florida Panthers came into the picture and traded him with the Chicago Blackhawks. Jones had been looking for a change since the Four Nations Face-Off, to get onto a team that has the potential to win a championship.

With competition like Dallas Stars and Columbus Blue Jackets, it was Florida that came out as the ultimate winner by providing Jones with the change he needed. Now, with a fresh jersey on his back, Seth Jones is not just moving on from Chicago but also speaking the truth about his tenure with the Blackhawks. Fresh off the trade, he’s pulling back the curtain on what those four years were really like, and let’s just say, it wasn’t all sunshine and smooth skating.

Ben Pope, the Chicago Blackhawks beat reporter for The Sun-Times, hopped on X on March 3 to spill some behind-the-scenes insight straight from Seth Jones himself. Reflecting on his time in Chicago, Jones didn’t sugarcoat a thing, admitting, “It was a tough 4 years in Chicago. Not what I envisioned when I signed there… I was just putting so much on myself, trying to do it all.”

The post continued, “That wasn’t the right thing, but it was hard mentally day-to-day. I’m happy I can come here… trust all the players around me and just win.” Safe to say, he’s ready to roll with the Panthers and let the game come to him.

Seth Jones is still enjoying fruits of that eight-year, $76 million deal that he signed after joining Chicago in 2021. Five days after the trade from Columbus, he signed to a contract of $9.5 million per year. But with the latest reorganization, the Blackhawks are retaining $2.5 million of his wages over the next five seasons. In exchange for Jones, the Florida Panthers snagged a 2026 fourth-round pick but had to part ways with goaltender Spencer Knight and a conditional 2026 first-rounder (which could slide to 2027 if things don’t align).

Oh, and Chicago is holding onto 26.3% of Jones’ paycheck, making this trade even more layered. While Jones seems to be all smiles about the move, it’s a different vibe over in Florida. Panthers fans aren’t exactly rolling out the red carpet for Jones just yet.

Seth Jones’ welcome ain’t the warmest!

Spencer Knight was served with a plot twist he never saw coming, but that’s what life is like in the NHL. It’s one moment that you are comfortable, the next moment you are packing your stuff. Now rocking a Blackhawks jersey, the young goalie made his debut against the Kings at United Center on Monday, just two days after the big trade that sent Knight to Chicago. And while the trade caught him off guard, Knight’s taking it all in stride. “I was very surprised, but when you turn pro, you realize that’s always a possibility,” he admitted. However, he cannot wait to be part of an Original Six team, eager to experience the craziness of Chicago hockey.

Meanwhile, over in Florida, GM Bill Zito is rolling out the VIP treatment for Seth Jones. David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period spilled the tea on X, sharing Zito’s glowing praise for his newest defenseman. “Seth is an elite veteran defenseman and a proven leader… a reliable workhorse on both sides of the puck,” Zito raved, basically calling Jones the missing piece in Florida’s championship puzzle. But while the front office is hyped, some Panthers fans aren’t exactly buying the vision. One fan even blasted out, “Florida, what the hell are you doing? Seth Jones is washed.” Ouch. Let’s just say, not everyone’s convinced that swapping Knight for Jones was the right move.

And let’s be real—Jones’ time in Chicago wasn’t exactly sprinkled with fairy dust. The Blackhawks have been drowning in losses, and Jones was right there in the middle of all the chaos. Just last week, Chicago took a brutal 2-1 L against Utah, marking their fourth straight defeat, with just one lonely win in their last eight games. Even with Jones getting that first goal on the board, it wasn’t enough to drown out the frustration. Fast forward, and boom—he’s off to Florida. The Panthers are locked in on winning, but is Jones the defensive anchor they need? That’s still up for debate.