Blackhawks' Seth Jones: Overpaid However Integral

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September 3, 2024

Seth Jones will possible have the tag of “overpaid” connected to him for the remainder of his time as a member of the Chicago Blackhawks, however overpaid does not imply he would not do his job or is ineffective.

When in comparison with different high defensemen across the league, Jones lacks the nice all-around recreation or elite stage of offense on a constant foundation that the perfect of the perfect possess and are paid for. Whereas not being among the many elites, he’s paid like one of many absolute best defensemen within the NHL at $9.5 million AAV.

That is due to an eight-year, $76 million contract extension handed out by former Blackhawks and present Edmonton Oilers common supervisor Stan Bowman in July 2021. Jones’ agent, Pat Brisson, took Bowman to the cleaners instantly after he arrived from Columbus in a commerce. The deal boosted Jones’ annual pay from $5.4 million. https://puckpedia.com/trade/421

Jones was instantly put in a tricky resolution that he wasn’t anticipating as soon as arriving in Chicago. Bowman traded for him and signed him to that large contract with the expectation that the crew might flip issues round and nonetheless have some aggressive years left. That fell aside instantly and the Blackhawks have completed on the backside of the standings for 3 consecutive seasons, all three that Jones has been a member of the crew.

Earlier than being acquired by the Blackhawks, Jones earned Norris Trophy votes in 4 of the earlier 5 seasons, ending fourth as a 23-year-old in 2017-18. In his closing season with the Columbus Blue Jackets, the crew wasn’t good and his numbers weren’t as nice because of this.

The season following the commerce, Jones proved that he nonetheless has the capabilities of being a giant risk offensively and dealing with duties as a primary defenseman. He has averaged effectively over 24 minutes per recreation of ice time for seven consecutive seasons now. If the Blackhawks did not have Jones as their primary defenseman, the crew could be with out one and in actual bother this season and the close to future.

What’s the definition of a real primary defenseman? Taking part in a ton of minutes, logging time on the ability play and penalty kill, being trusted in all conditions, and doing so successfully. Jones hits all of these as he has performed no less than 214 minutes on the ability play and no less than 137 minutes on the penalty kill in all three seasons with Chicago.

Jones used to start out many extra attracts within the offensive zone than the defensive zone, however that has virtually evened proper up, proving that he’s integral at each ends of the ice and trusted to do greater than anybody else on the back-end for the Blackhawks.

On high of all the things else Jones does for the Blackhawks, he performs a bodily recreation and blocks photographs. The overpaid tag comes from being the fifth-highest paid defenseman within the NHL, tied with Adam Fox and Charlie McAvoy, whereas incomes extra per 12 months than d-men corresponding to Roman Josi, Cale Makar, and Quinn Hughes.

Jones is not elite offensively as 16 targets and 57 factors is a profession excessive, however he’s a primary defenseman doing what no person else on the Blackhawks can proper now. At this stage, it’s significantly better that the Blackhawks have him beneath contract than not and I am anticipating a bounce-back season in 2024-25.