The Panthers took another big swing, this time trading for Seth Jones and sending backup Spencer Knight and a first-round pick to the Blackhawks, who retained a portion of Jones' $9.5-millino cap hit.
This trade follows a string of ugly games for the Blackhawks and a public outburst by Jones who criticized his own team for not having improved since the first game of the season, and requested to be moved to a more competitive team. Bill Zito, who has crafted a reputation for making big, bold moves, quickly took advantage of the situation and addressed a thin blue line in preparation for the Panthers' Cup defense.
Seth Jones. © Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images
Winners:
Seth Jones, D, Panthers (68% rostered)
Jones is the big winner in the trade, going from a lottery team to a Cup contender. His role is unlikely to diminish significantly; though Aaron Ekblad remains on PP1, by virtue of being on a better team and playing with better players, Jones gets a fantasy boost. There's definitely a chance that Jones takes over PP1 from Ekblad, too.
Jones has never been a big point producer and that will not change. Regardless of what you think of his on-ice play in recent seasons - I think it's ranged from very poor to above average, and mostly mediocre - there's no denying Jones' fantasy value and the Panthers' defensive depth improve following the trade.
Chris Driedger, G, Panthers (0% rostered)
Driedger has not had a good season in the AHL with a .878 SP, just one season removed after backstopped Coachella Valley - the Kraken's AHL affiliate - to the Calder Cup final. He has yet to appear in an NHL game this season but he will eventually have to when the Panthers give Sergei Bobrovsky - who may start even more games down the stretch - a break.
I'm not convinced the Panthers will stick with Driedger as their backup, but trading Knight has opened the opportunity for him. In certain matchups, Driedger should be an option worth considering as a streamer, but it's better to see what sort of performances he can deliver before committing. The Panthers are a better team after the trade, which provides some optimism.
Alex Vlasic, D, Blackhawks (5% rostered)
There were times I felt Vlasic was a better option on the Hawks PP than Jones. Rostered primarily for blocks in fantasy, consistent PP1 minutes for Vlasic now gives him a permanent fantasy boost for the rest of the season; 11 of his 23 points this season were scored on the power play. The Hawks are a low-upside offensive team even with Connor Bedard, so temper your expectations; but, in deeper leagues where defense is thin, Vlasic is a very good speculative pickup.
Spencer Knight. © Jeff Curry-Imagn Images
Spencer Knight, G, Blackhawks (16% rostered)
Knight was dropped immediately following the trade in some of my leagues, but there's an argument to be made his fantasy value has increased. It certainly has in the long term as the Hawks' potential future No. 1 - Petr Mrazek has one more year remaining on his contract - and in the short term, he potentially gets more starts. He'll have to battle Mrazek and Arvid Soderblom for playing time, but don't rule out the Hawks trading either or both goalies. Knowing Knight is their future No. 1, it's in their best interests to give Knight his reps.
The quality of Knight's starts will be worse, though, because the Hawks are not a good team. Only in leagues that value quantity over quality, Knight's fantasy value gets a slight boost.
Losers:
Aaron Ekblad, D, Panthers (64% rostered)
Not that Ekblad has ever been particularly good in fantasy asides from his 57-point season, but two things are worth noting: one, he's never been a particularly good PP QB; two, he has yet to sign an extension. It would be weird to see Ekblad in another jersey this summer, but the trade for Jones tells me there's a chance he takes over PP1 and their right-side defense beyond this season. Whatever offense Ekblad potentially brings to the table in fantasy has become a bit more muted. Take a wait-and-see approach, but I have a feeling Ekblad will remain useful only in fantasy for blocks going forward.
Petr Mrazek, G, Blackhawks (10% rostered)
Arvid Soderblom, G, Blackhawks (4% rostered)
It's possible the Hawks carry three goalies for the rest of the season, but it's not ideal. Mrazek likely has the most to lose because he'll be ceding starts to Knight, while Soderblom's fantasy value has been very minimal the entire season. Mrazek has been worthwhile as the occasional streaming option, but those opportunities are going to come even further and fewer apart.
As troublesome as Jones' play has been - at times - for the Hawks, he's one of the few defensemen they have who's capable of playing 20 solid minutes per game. His void will be filled internally, and likely by someone less experienced and less talented. That does not bode well for their ability to suppress shots.
