Two Players The Chicago Blackhawks Could Target in A Seth Jones Trade

The Chicago Blackhawks will have to figure out how to make the money work in a trade that sends Seth Jones to a contending NHL team.

Jones makes $9.5 million against the Hawks' salary cap, and with one retainage spot used for Mikko Rantanen's deal, they need to prioritize the next one.

That could include retaining a partial amount of his deal in order to make a move happen by the trade deadline quicker.

If GM Kyle Davidson can work the phones and make a move happen, he should focus his attention on NHL-ready assets.

This could require calling in on two teams that have players that could elevate the Blackhawks to another level of NHL play.

The Dallas Stars have been one team that has had an eye on Seth Jones in recent trade discussions.

If the Hawks do make a deal with GM Jim Nill and the Stars, they should inquire about the availability of center Mavrik Bourque. Bourque was a former 2020 first-round pick and has found a spot in the NHL this season.

He's played 51 games and scored 18 points (8 G, 10 A), and before he ascended to the NHL ranks played at over a point-per-game pace in the AHL. In 71 games with the Texas Stars, he score 77 points ( 26 G, 51 A).

The Stars are currently over-encumbered in talented forwards, and GM Kyle Davidson should relieve them of a player who won't get a fair shake in the NHL.

Samoskevich is getting his first look in the NHL this season, playing 49 games for the Florida Panthers. He's tallied 17 points (8 G, 9 A) for the Panthers, after playing in only seven NHL games last year.

Samoskevich was a former 24th overall pick in 2021 by the Panthers and was also a player who produced over a point-per-game in Michigan scoring 43 points (20 G, 23 A) in 40 games wearing maize and blue.

With the amount of draft capital Kyle Davidson has stashed, it wouldn't be a bad idea to put it to use in order to acquire talent whose full potential has yet to be realized in the NHL.

With the Blackhawks' center depth looking thin at the moment, both players would bolster the Hawks' lineup and save the team significant amounts of money on the cap.