Blackhawks trade board: Seth Jones wants out. Can he be moved by the deadline?

New York Times

26-02-2025

The Athletic has live coverage of the 2025 NHL trade deadline.
Now that Seth Jones' wish to be traded is out in the open, every game he plays and everything he says will be scrutinized that much more. And Jones didn't hold back after the Blackhawks' not-nearly-as-close-as-it-looks 2-1 loss to the Utah Hockey Club on Tuesday night. There's no more masking his frustration — not that he was really hiding it much to begin with, four years into his tenure with the tanking and rebuilding Blackhawks. Or as he put it, 'almost four years of bottom of the league.'
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'We're the exact same team right now as we were Game 1,' Jones said. 'It's pretty evident out there. We haven't made any strides to be a better, more simple hockey team, and it shows. We don't get a lot of wins because of that.'
Jones wants out, and it dramatically changes the stakes of the upcoming March 7 trade deadline for the Blackhawks. What was supposed to be a quiet deadline, with maybe a few stopgap veterans on one-year deals getting flipped for mid- to late-round picks is now something much bigger. Suddenly, Chicago has two of the top five trade chips on Chris Johnston's big board, with Jones at No. 3 and Ryan Donato — in the midst of a career season — at No. 5.
Given his contract (five more seasons with a $9.5 million cap hit), moving Jones will be complicated and difficult. There's no guarantee it happens in the next nine days, or even this summer. But Jones' fate is by far the biggest storyline right now for the Blackhawks, who are otherwise playing out the string in another lost season.
Jones and Donato aren't the only players who could be moved, however. Let's take a look at our first Chicago-centric trade board.
The Blackhawks will undoubtedly trade Seth Jones. Whether that's within the next two weeks or five years from now is the question. Jones has brought his desire to be traded out in the open, but that likely doesn't change much. The Blackhawks aren't feeling pressure to move Jones and aren't going to agree to just any offer, especially when it comes to how much they retain of his contract. How much flexibility Jones gives with his no-movement clause and where he's willing to go is a major part of the equation, too.
The likelihood that Donato could be traded probably increased slightly as soon as he was taken off Connor Bedard's line this week. There was an argument to be made for the Blackhawks to keep Donato around, especially if he was benefitting Bedard. Donato has value on the Blackhawks, but Davidson will be weighing it against what a team is willing to give up for him. Donato is having a career season and brings the kind of motor and depth scoring contenders crave this time of year. But to weaken the current team for another third-round pick or worse probably doesn't make much sense for the Blackhawks.
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Like Jones, Murphy's name has been popping up on NHL insider trade boards despite him having term beyond this season. Murphy is signed through next season. He has been better this season, especially defensively, than recent years, he can play on either side, and he could draw some interest. His recurring groin injury probably does give some teams pause.
The Blackhawks may not be openly shopping Reichel, but they're probably more willing to listen on him than ever before. The Blackhawks could hold onto Reichel and see if he continues to develop over the next season. The question is just whether they want to keep holding a roster spot for him. How much patience do they have, and do they still believe he's capable of playing the way they want him to? Reichel is only 22, and his speed is undeniable. But after another healthy scratch, it seems as if he's getting closer and closer to needing a 'change of scenery' trade to jump-start his career.
Smith might not be the most exciting trade candidate around, but he's a reliable depth scorer who's got loads of playoff experience and isn't shy about putting the puck on net. And he's making barely above the league minimum. The Blackhawks likely would get next to nothing for him, but opening a roster spot for a younger player at this stage of the season might be enough.
Maroon is a three-time Stanley Cup champion. On one hand, that means he holds special value to contenders, particularly those who haven't won before. There's nothing like having 'rings in the room,' as the old saying goes. On the other hand, he doesn't need to go Cup-chasing at age 36, either. If he's open to a trade, the Blackhawks would be open to trading him. But if he'd rather stay put, the Blackhawks are probably perfectly content with that, too.
Kurashev has played some of his best hockey of the season coming out of the 4 Nations break. But the team soured on him pretty significantly this season after a surprising 54-point campaign last year, and it's probably too late to change the Blackhawks' mind. Kurashev likely won't be tendered a qualifying offer and will walk as a free agent. It's unlikely he would be traded, but the Blackhawks would obviously move him if someone called.
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Martinez said last week that he hasn't spoken to Davidson about whether he wants to be traded. Like Maroon, he's a three-time champion and well-respected veteran who could be had for a bargain price. Also like Maroon, the Blackhawks will trade him only if he wants to be traded. With a baby at home and another on the way, Martinez might be content to play out the season in Chicago rather than disrupt his family.
(Top photo of Seth Jones:)