Seth Jones' contract continues to haunt the Blackhawks.

Some contracts awarded to players leave NHL pundits and fans bewildered, as the compensation often does not align with the players' on-ice performance year after year.

This sentiment holds for Chicago defenseman Seth Jones. Jones, originally drafted by the Nashville Predators as the fourth overall pick in the 2013 NHL draft, was later traded to the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2016. After spending six seasons with the Blue Jackets, he was acquired by the Blackhawks in 2022.

In the previous season, Jones played 72 games, tallying twelve goals and 25 assists for a total of 37 points. However, he also held a disappointing minus-38 rating. It's important to consider that the team faced significant challenges, leading to a breakdown in defence. Nonetheless, Jones was awarded a substantial contract, set to earn a staggering $12.5 million in the 2023-2024 season.

This contract will make Jones the highest-paid defenseman on a rebuilding team next season. With such a sizable contract, it becomes extremely difficult for the Blackhawks' general manager, Kyle Davidson, to trade him.

It appears that the intention behind this contract is to establish Jones as the cornerstone of their defence. Despite the underwhelming numbers he has produced, it's undeniable that his agent did an exceptional job negotiating a contract on par with superstars like Alexander Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals and Kirill Kaprizov of the Minnesota Wild.