Florida Panthers Trade Spencer Knight to Chicago Blackhawks for Seth Jones
The Florida Panthers sent Spencer Knight and a first-round draft pick to the Chicago Blackhawks in exchange for Seth Jones
The Florida Panthers traded 23-year-old netminder Spencer Knight and a 2026 first-round draft pickd to the Chicago Blackhawks in exchange for Seth Jones and a 2026 fourth-round pick on Saturday night.
Chicago will retain $2.5 million of Jones’ $9.5 million annual cap hit, which expires after the 2029-30 NHL season.
The Panthers had just over $3 million in deadline cap space available before the trade was made, and with Knight’s $4.5 million cap hit going the other way, they will be able to take on Jones’ contract without needing to place Matthew Tkachuk on long-term injured reserve.
Tkachuk, who carries a $9.5 million cap hit, still does not have a timeline for return after sustaining an apparent groin injury at the 4 Nations Face-Off.
The 2026 draft pick Florida sent to Chicago will become a 2027 draft pick if the Panthers are not in possession of their 2026 pick.
Jones has seven goals and 27 points in 42 games with a plus/minus of minus-18 on the season.
“Seth is an elite veteran defenseman and a proven leader in our league,” Panthers general manager Bill Zito said in a statement. “He has been one of the most consistent players of the past decade serving as a reliable workhorse on both sides of the puck, and he will help our club continue to compete at the highest level.”
The 30-year-old right-shot defenseman has 97 goals and 432 points in 839 career games in his NHL career for the Nashville Predators, Columbus Blue Jackets and Chicago Blackhawks.
Spencer Knight, the 2019 first-round draft choice of the Panthers, finishes his Florida career 44–25-7 with a .906 save percentage and a 2.76 goals-against average. He is 12-8-7 with a .907 save percentage and a 2.40 goals-against average with two shutouts this season.
“On behalf of the entire Florida Panthers organization, we would like to thank Spencer for his many contributions to our club and the South Florida community both on and off the ice,” said Zito. “He is a first-class individual and we wish him success in his young professional career.”
The trade was first reported by Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic.
This is a developing story which will be updated when more information becomes available.