Florida Panthers' Struggles Could Determine When Chicago Blackhawks Receive their Draft Pick From Seth Jones Deal

The Chicago Blackhawks received important clarity Friday about the first-round draft pick they acquired from the Florida Panthers in the Seth Jones trade. The pick comes with top-ten protection, meaning if Florida finishes in the bottom ten of the league standings, Chicago will receive the selection in 2027 instead of 2026.The timing matters because nobody expected the defending Stanley Cup champions to be anywhere near lottery position when the trade was made. But injuries have completely derailed Florida's season, and entering the Olympic break, they hold the tenth-worst record in the NHL.

Florida Panthers’ position this season could determine Chicago’s fate at upcoming NHL Draft

If the Panthers keep their 2026 first-round pick by staying in the bottom ten, it creates a domino effect. Chicago's pick slides to 2027, and the 2027 first-rounder Florida gave Boston in the Brad Marchand trade would then move to 2028.Florida remains an elite organization despite the current struggles. Over the past four seasons they won a Presidents' Trophy, reached the Stanley Cup Final, and captured back-to-back championships. The consequences of those deep playoff runs are now showing up in the form of injuries and fatigue.The draft pick protection does not change the fundamental math of the Seth Jones deal for Chicago. Jones publicly requested a trade before the 2025 deadline, making it clear he wanted out.

For a disgruntled player who was mentally checked out, the Blackhawks landed Spencer Knight and a first-round pick.Knight represents the real prize in the deal. The former first-round pick gives Chicago a young goaltender with the talent to be a number one for the next decade. His ceiling projects as a top-ten goalie who could compete for the Vezina Trophy annually during his prime years.Landing a potential franchise goalie for a player who wanted out already makes this a win for Chicago.

The first-round pick, whether it arrives in 2026 or 2027, is simply a bonus on top for Florida, who have a three-week Olympic break to get healthy and regroup. Can they go on a run when play resumes and climb out of the bottom ten? Their track record suggests they are more than capable of making that happen. For Chicago, the best-case scenario might actually be Florida finishing eleventh. The 2026 draft is considered particularly deep, and getting that pick this year rather than waiting until 2027, when the unprotected selection conveys, could provide more value. Either way, general manager Kyle Davidson landed the goalie of the future and will eventually add another asset to the rebuild once Florida's draft pick finally arrives in Chicago.