Trade completed between the Chicago Blackhawks and Florida Panthers: A true homerun

The Blackhawks shipped veteran defenseman Seth Jones to Florida and in return landed young goaltender Spencer Knight plus a conditional first-round pick.

Jones, 30, had requested a move out of Chicago after frustrations with the team's direction mounted.

He leaves with 27 points (7 goals, 20 assists) in 42 games this season-the most among Blackhawks defensemen.

In Knight, Chicago acquired a 23-year-old goaltender who already shows serious NHL potential. He's appeared in 19 games so far for the Blackhawks with a .919 save percentage and a 2.44 goals-against average.

Knight's most recent game against the Los Angeles Kings saw the goaltender stop 26 of 27 shots.

The addition of Knight gives Chicago a goaltender who could anchor the net for years to come. The conditional first-round pick adds more future value, even if it ends up pushed to 2027, thanks to conditions tied to the Panthers' pick.

Fans are already noticing how Knight's calm presence between the pipes is giving younger skaters confidence. It feels like the Blackhawks just handed themselves a legit building block in net.

It's not just about shedding Jones' $9.5 million cap hit-it's about acquiring promising talent without mortgaging the future. Chicago will still retain part of Jones' salary, but the return in talent and flexibility seems well worth it.

This trade signals that Chicago might finally be shifting from rebuild to retool. With Knight backstopping the team and a first-round pick coming, the Blackhawks have laid some solid foundation stones for their next rise.