Okay, before you attack me, hear me out. Seth Jones is still young and can potentially improve the St. Louis Blues, especially if they make the playoffs next year.
The Bad
Jones struggled this year, recording 31 points in 67 games. The popular podcast Locked on Blackhawks scored him a C+ this year. That's a concern, and it's not a pretty score coming from his own fans.
Read any Chicago sports site; fans, by and large, want him gone.
His contract is also gigantic. He signed an eight-year deal averaging $9.5 million a year, which includes a no-trade clause similar to Torey Krug's.
Jones didn't play well this year. He has had a tough time despite his successful first year in Chicago.
Losing is contagious
Randy Moss, one of the best wide receivers in NFL history, played terribly in Oakland, showing losing is contagious, even for star players. Once Moss was traded to New England and paired with Tom Brady, he regained his Minnesota Viking form.
Sure, it's a gamble, but the same thing can happen to Seth Jones as it did with Moss. The few Jones fans in Chicago are already panicking. As Jones said two weeks ago, "This is a great organization, obviously, but I really didn't want to rebuild, you know, when I left Columbus."
Once an impactful player doubts his place on a team, problems follow. Blues fans know this all too well.
Chicago is rebuilding and rebuilding hard. Jones wants to win.
Making the impossible possible
Would the rival Blackhawks really trade Seth Jones to the Blues? After last year, they might want to drop his massive contract. If the Blues inquired about his availability and created a deal with Chicago to eat some of his contract, the deal could be feasible.
The Boston Red Sox traded Alex Verdugo to the New York Yankees. Oh, and Darren Pang left St. Louis for Chicago. The trade makes sense, bringing even more chemistry to the long-standing rivalry.
Of course, Blues GM Doug Armstrong would have to work his magic and unload some large contracts, including deals from players with no-trade clauses. But it's not impossible.
I'm biased; I admit it
Finally, I conclude that I like Seth Jones. I love his story, being the son of NBA player Popeye Jones. I watched his dad play, going to Denver Nuggets games with my father. But more so, I rooted for him in Columbus; he is a good player.
My argument stands: Jones had some great seasons in Columbus and has made several All-Star appearances. He's also a big guy who has veteran experience.
Chicago has got to be ecstatic about getting another high draft pick this year; in my eyes, this opens up a possibility of the Blackhawk's willingness to eat a couple of million from Jones's massive contract.
His 31 earned points in Chicago this year are not encouraging and are eight points less than Krug's final numbers. However, Jones, listed at 6'4 and 213 lbs, is a sizeable player the Blues could use. All Blues fans know the team needs to get bigger. I would pull the trigger if Armstrong could eliminate a couple of contracts himself, especially a deal involving Krug, Justin Faulk, or Colton Parayko.
Sure, it's a gamble and almost impossible to make this deal, but Jones could be the Blues Randy Moss story.