Trade completed between the Florida Panthers and Chicago Blackhawks: It's Kyle Davidson's best ever as GM

While we've gone through an underwhelming free agency under Kyle Davidson, his best trade as GM took place this season.

The deal sent Seth Jones to the now Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers in return for goalie Spencer Knight.

The dirty details: The Blackhawks retained $2.5 million of Jones's salary, netting them a 1st-round pick in 2026 in exchange for the right-handed defenseman.

The Blackhawks would send a 4th-round pick in 2026 to Florida.

The goalie Spencer Knight would make his debut on March 3rd, 2025, with the Chicago Blackhawks against the Los Angeles Kings, only two days after the blockbuster deal.

Now, it appears Knight is heir apparent to the starting goalie throne vacated by Petr Mrazek when he was traded to the Detroit Red Wings for Joe Veleno.

Craig Smith was a part of that package, but neither would truly make an impact in Detroit.

Knight has proven himself more than capable of netminding for a young, budding roster in the Windy City.

He's played a total of 95 games in the NHL with a 49-33-9 record, 2.82 GAA, and a .904 save percentage.

Jones would go on to be a top-four defender in the Panthers' lineup and would help the team secure another Stanley Cup in the NHL, and his first career cup victory.

While it seems that the Panthers may have won this one outright, the Blackhawks have Knight stashed away for the future and a 1st-round pick in 2026 that could net them a future superstar or a top-six talent should they decide to move it.

This is the best trade of Davidson's career as a GM in Chicago so far. Can he pull another off again in 2025-26?