Chicago Blackhawks: 1 reason Duncan Keith trade could lead to more
The Chicago Blackhawks made a trade that shook the fanbase a little bit. They sent Duncan Keith to the Edmonton Oilers in exchange for Caleb Jones and a draft pick. It is a really nice trade for the Hawks as Keith is going to be 38 years old in a few days and Jones has the potential to be a good NHL defenseman. Of course, losing Keith is sad because of everything that he has meant but the future of the team has to be the most important at this point.
The acquisition of Caleb Jones could lead to more for the Blackhawks. So far this offseason, the Hawks have been linked to a few different players on the trade market. One of them is Caleb’s older brother Seth Jones. The elder Jones is a superstar defenseman that could change the fortunes of the franchise. If the Hawks used that money they are saving on Keith for Seth Jones, they would have an increased chance of being good.
The Chicago Blackhawks should make a play for more good players this summer.
If they add another goalie and acquire both Jones brothers in the same offseason, they might actually be decent next year. They claimed they were going to begin a rebuild last offseason but have done nothing to support that claim since. Instead, they had a decent start to the 2020-21 season before the bottom fell out.
They are a hard team to read but if they are trying to win, adding someone like Seth Jones would help in that quest. For better or worse, he would make them much better than they are right now. Trading for his brother doesn’t mean it will happen but it makes you wonder based on the rumors earlier this summer.
If the Hawks are able to make a big move like this, there will still be a lot of work that needs to be done. Adding one stud defenseman certainly helps but it won’t make them a Stanley Cup contender or anything like that. They are in the monstrous Central Division where every team believes they are a playoff team. The idea of adding someone like Seth Jones, at the very least, is exciting and entertaining.
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In 2020-21, Jones had a down year by his standards. The advanced analytic people were all over him for it too. There are some things that could have contributed to that fact. For one, his team in the Columbus Blue Jackets were awful for the first time in his career. The Hawks aren’t much better but a change of scenery is clearly something he wants. Don’t be surprised if this happens at some point but there will be lots of suiters.