Insider connects Seth Jones to Edmonton Oilers in trade

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Liam McCormick
September 28, 2024 (3:51 PM)

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The Edmonton Oilers are in need of a top four defenceman in trade this season, and one candidate is Seth Jones.

Greg Wyshynski of ESPN recently laid out some bold predictions for the upcoming trade deadline, and he named the Blackhawks moving Seth Jones to the Oilers as once scenario.

»This could be the season where Jones gets moved if the right situation presents itself to GM Kyle Davidson, who is not the GM who traded for and signed Jones to that contract.

Funny enough, the general manager who did is now running the Edmonton Oilers, a team that has a much maligned 26-year-old defenseman making $9.25 million against the cap through 2029-30. Seth Jones-Stan Bowman reunion, when?»
- Greg Wyshynski

It'd certainly be an extremely bold move for the Oilers to trade for Seth Jones and his $9.5M salary for the next 6 seasons. Now 29 years old, Jones hasn't been able to live up to the value of his contract since joining the team, and frequently gets picked apart in the defensive zone. He is playing top pair minutes on one of the worst teams in the league, but just two years ago, Jones posted an absolutely horrific -38 rating. Considering his Darnell Nurse-sized contract, it's a major risk to acquire him given his record.

Jones was drafted 4th overall by the Nashville Predators back in 2013, and has gone on to play 797 career games since his debut in his age 18 season. He's a towering and mobile right shot defender which is an asset in itself, and clearly, GM Stan Bowman does believe in him. The Oilers current GM was the one that signed Jones in Chicago, and if he still believes he's worth the risk of his salary, the Oilers could target him in trade.

Heading into training camp this year, the right side of defence is looking a little questionable past Bouchard. Ty Emberson is a promising player but unproven with only 30 games played, and beyond that the Oilers have journeymen in Troy Stecher and Josh Brown. Adding a premier right shot defender should be a priority for the Oilers this year as they've got the cap space, the trade assets, and a real shot at the Stanley Cup.