The Edmonton Oilers need some help on the blue line. In the Connor McDavid/Leon Draisaitl era, the back end has always been a concern for this team, and it continues to be an area needing improvement in 2024-25.
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It’s far better than it once was, as Evan Bouchard has turned into a top-pairing defenceman, while Mattias Ekholm has been excellent ever since being acquired ahead of the 2023 Trade Deadline. That said, there is a significant drop off on their second pairing, particularly on the right side.
The Oilers went into Saturday’s game with the Philadelphia Flyers with John Klingberg on their second pairing. That simply won’t cut it for a team that’s supposed to be a Stanley Cup contender. While McDavid and Draisaitl can do plenty to help mask that weakness, it will become tough to overcome in the playoffs. It’s clear the Oilers need to add to their back end ahead of the trade deadline, and there happens to be a very capable right-shot defenceman who is available.
Seth Jones Would Improve Oilers’ Blue Line
Much like Darnell Nurse in Edmonton, Seth Jones’ value, at least in the eyes of fans, is extremely low due to an ugly contract. The 30-year-old is on a nearly identical contract to the Oilers defenceman, as he carries a $9.5 million cap hit through the 2029-30 season. No team would be willing to take on that deal, and for many including the Oilers, they couldn’t afford to even if they wanted him. That said, the Chicago Blackhawks seem willing to retain some of the contract, which adds some serious intrigue.
Jones has had the difficult task of being a number-one defenceman on a very bad Blackhawks team. It’s exposed flaws in his game, but those who criticize him often forget how good he was when playing in more of a second-pairing role during his time with the Nashville Predators and Columbus Blue Jackets.
On the Oilers, Jones would go back to being a second-pairing option, as Ekholm and Bouchard are locked into the top pairing. That would take a ton of pressure off Jones, and should allow him to get back to the very solid NHL player he was for several seasons earlier in his career.
Jones, though not being a $9.5 million player, is an elite skater who can provide offence while also being responsible in his own end of the ice. If the Blackhawks are willing to retain 50 percent of his deal, the Oilers would be able to add a much-needed right shot defenceman who can log 20-plus minutes a night for $4.75 million.
Oilers Would Need to Give Up Assets
While the Blackhawks wouldn’t have any issue retaining 50 percent of Jones’ contract for the next few seasons given how far away they are from contending, expecting them to be eager to do so for the duration of his entire contract isn’t wise. Even with the cap going up, that’s a good amount of money over a long time to pay a player who’s on another team.
The good news for the Oilers here is that the Blackhawks are open to moving Jones, and he seems to be wanting a change in scenery. That gives the Oilers the upper hand in trade negotiations, but in order to get the Blackhawks to retain 50 percent, they are still going to need to make it worth the Blackhawks’ while.
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The Oilers have their first-round picks in both the 2026 and 2027 Drafts. One of those would absolutely need to be part of a Jones trade, though that alone likely wouldn’t be enough for the Blackhawks to retain all that money. After all, the Oilers will likely continue to be one of the NHL’s top teams over the next several years, meaning that either of those first-rounders would come very late.
A prospect would also need to be included in this deal. The Oilers wouldn’t have interest in moving Matt Savoie in this type of trade, though another solid prospect they have that could be of interest to the Blackhawks is Beau Akey. The 2023 second-round pick is having another solid season in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) and was part of Canada’s 2025 World Junior roster.
This offer, at the very least, should be enough to get the ball rolling on a trade between the two sides. It would benefit the Oilers immediately in their quest to win the Stanley Cup, while the Blackhawks would be able to move out a disgruntled player and add some pieces that will help their rebuilding process.
