The Edmonton Oilers’ want for a dependable top-four right-shot defenseman is clear. Edmonton is betting on certainly one of Ty Emberson, Troy Stecher, or Josh Brown to play top-four minutes and it’s a severe gamble. Uncertainty or early struggles might cause them to take into account a high-profile however dangerous transfer: buying Seth Jones from the Chicago Blackhawks. A minimum of, that was an concept first floated by ESPN’s Greg Wyshynski as a daring prediction for the 2024-25 NHL season.
Wyshynski took a have a look at daring predictions for each group and advised the Blackhawks may transfer Jones as his polarizing contract seems much less and fewer polarizing because of a rising wage cap. He then linked the Oilers to Jones because of a reference to Edmonton’s new common supervisor Stan Bowman.
He writes:
This could possibly be the season the place Jones will get moved if the fitting state of affairs presents itself to GM Kyle Davidson, who isn’t the GM who traded for and signed Jones to that contract. Humorous sufficient, the overall supervisor who did is now working the Edmonton Oilers, a group that has a much-maligned 26-year-old defenseman making $9.25 million towards the cap by means of 2029-30. Seth Jones-Stan Bowman reunion, when?
supply – “Daring predictions for each NHL group for the 2024-25 season’ – Greg Wyshynski – ESPN – 09/26/2024
Including a participant of Jones’ caliber will surely be an improve. That stated, it’s not the swing-for-the-fences kind of transfer Edmonton must make this season.
The Oilers Protection Might Battle This Season
This offseason, the Oilers misplaced three key defensemen: Cody Ceci, Vincent Desharnais, and Philip Broberg. All however Broberg have been right-shot defensemen who supplied depth and adaptability, together with the power to play top-four minutes. Their departures have left a void on the fitting aspect of the Oilers’ protection, making it a essential space for Bowman and CEO Jeff Jackson to handle. The early perception is that Ty Emberson (acquired from the San Jose Sharks) can fill the position, however with solely 30 NHL video games on his resume, that’s not a assure.
In the meantime, Jones is a veteran with a confirmed potential to log heavy minutes. Logically, Wyshynski may join the 2.
Jones has spent the previous few seasons treading water in a tricky Chicago Blackhawks state of affairs. He’s a somewhat-steady veteran of their rebuild, enjoying on one of many worst defensive groups within the league. Regardless of this, he’s managed to supply respectable numbers. He has 25 objectives and 119 factors in 217 video games with Chicago, all whereas averaging 25:29 minutes of ice time per sport, one of many highest averages within the NHL. Including somebody who might play that kind of workload can be invaluable to the Oilers.
So too, including a top-four defenseman like Jones would steadiness out the Oilers’ blue line, probably providing a dependable associate for Darnell Nurse.
The Threat Issue Too Nice to Add Jones’ Contract
The most important hurdle in buying Jones is his large contract. Jones is signed by means of 2029-30 with a mean annual worth (AAV) of $9.5 million, making him one of many highest-paid defensemen within the league. The Oilers merely can’t afford that, not with massive contracts kicking in for Leon Draisaitl after which coming for Connor McDavid and Evan Bouchard.
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Whereas Jones is a professional top-pairing defenseman, that cap hit is a monster. At 29 years outdated, Jones isn’t too outdated, however his contract would take him to his mid-30s and the Blackhawks aren’t about to retain $4 million per season over the subsequent 5 seasons.
There’s additionally the query of whether or not Jones’ underwhelming efficiency in Chicago is a results of enjoying on a rebuilding group or an indication indicative of a private decline. In 217 video games with the Blackhawks, Jones has a regarding minus-90 ranking, the second-worst within the NHL. Is that as a result of the Blackhawks have been awful? Or, is that as a result of Jones has?
An Attention-grabbing Thought That Isn’t Occurring
Key to recollect in all of this too is that Jones has a full no-move clause labored into his deal. Whereas gamers have began to see the Oilers as a prime vacation spot to go to and probably win, Jones can squash any commerce discuss he needs. Ought to he determine he’d choose to remain in Chicago and wait the 2 or three years it’d take for them to contend, he can.
All in all, on paper, the kind of participant Jones is can be a pleasant match for the Oilers. However, while you have a look at his cap hit, the time period left on his deal, and his statistics over the previous three seasons, even Stan Bowman doesn’t contact this one.
