This season has been particularly tough for Jones, as the Blackhawks sit at the bottom of the standings and he has missed 16 games due to a foot injury.

At 30 years old, Jones is in the third year of an eight-year contract worth an average annual value of $9.5 million, which includes a full no-movement clause.

However, his contract presents a significant hurdle for any potential trade, with teams likely preferring that Chicago retain part of his salary, complicating negotiations.

If the Blackhawks decide to trade Jones, they could seek draft picks and prospects, ideally aiming for a young player to assist in their rebuilding efforts.

Despite his recent struggles, Jones remains a skilled all-around defenseman capable of logging significant minutes, making him appealing to teams in need of right-shot defensemen.

The NHL salary cap is projected to increase to $92.4 million next season, which could ease the burden of Jones' contract for interested teams.

Several teams have been identified as potential trade destinations for Jones, including the Carolina Hurricanes, Dallas Stars, Detroit Red Wings, Florida Panthers, and Washington Capitals.

The Washington Capitals, surprisingly in contention this season, may see Jones as a long-term solution, especially given the aging defensemen on their roster.

The Detroit Red Wings are actively seeking a skilled right-shot defenseman to bolster their playoff ambitions and have the financial capacity to take on Jones' full salary.

Meanwhile, the Florida Panthers, the defending champions, are facing depth issues on defense and may need to wait until the offseason to pursue Jones due to current salary cap constraints.

The Carolina Hurricanes are looking to strengthen their blue line after losing key players and could consider Jones as a replacement for Brent Burns, potentially offering young defenseman Alexander Nikishin as part of a trade.

On January 16, 2025, reports emerged that NHL teams have shown interest in Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Seth Jones, although he is not actively being marketed by General Manager Kyle Davidson.