Seth Jones trade twist drops impacting news on the Chicago Blackhawks

The Florida Panthers' top-10 protected 2026 first-round pick means the Blackhawks must wait until 2027 to receive it.

Feb. 7, 2026 at 9:31am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The Chicago Blackhawks' trade for Seth Jones last year included a 2026 first-round pick from the Florida Panthers, but that pick is now revealed to be top-10 protected. If the Panthers finish in the bottom 10 of the NHL standings, the Blackhawks will not receive the 2026 pick and will instead get Florida's 2027 first-rounder. This changes the timeline for the Blackhawks' rebuild, as they now must wait an extra year to cash in on the draft pick.

Why it matters

The Blackhawks were counting on two first-round picks in 2026 to help accelerate their rebuild, but the top-10 protection on the Panthers' pick means they will have to wait until 2027 to receive that asset. This is a significant setback for the Blackhawks as they try to quickly restock their prospect pool and return to contention.

The details

The Blackhawks acquired Seth Jones from the Columbus Blue Jackets last year in a blockbuster trade that included a 2026 first-round pick from the Florida Panthers. However, it has now been revealed that the Panthers' pick is top-10 protected, meaning if they finish in the bottom 10 of the NHL standings, the Blackhawks will not receive that 2026 pick and will instead get Florida's 2027 first-rounder. This is a major blow to the Blackhawks' rebuild plans, as they were counting on two first-round picks in 2026 to help restock their prospect pool.

  • The Seth Jones trade occurred nearly a year ago.
  • The top-10 protection on the Panthers' 2026 first-round pick has just now been revealed, nearly 11 months after the original trade.

The players

Seth Jones

All-Star defenseman acquired by the Chicago Blackhawks in a blockbuster trade last year.

Kyle Davidson

General manager of the Chicago Blackhawks, who must now adjust his rebuild plans due to the protected Panthers pick.

Spencer Knight

Goaltender for the Florida Panthers, who was the real on-ice piece acquired by the Blackhawks in the Seth Jones trade.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“Yes, it turns out the Panthers' top-10 pick is protected. The Blackhawks will receive their 2027 pick if it finishes top 10.”

— Sam Walker, Chicago Hockey Insider (hawksinsider.com)

“I'm told the Hawks' front office was aware of this all along. Seems it was a failure by me and others to uncover and report it. Apologies!”

— Sam Walker, Chicago Hockey Insider (hawksinsider.com)

What’s next

The Blackhawks will now need to hope the Florida Panthers climb the standings and avoid finishing in the bottom 10, as that would allow Chicago to receive the 2026 first-round pick as originally planned. The Blackhawks' rebuild timeline has been pushed back by a year due to this development.

The takeaway

This Seth Jones trade twist is a significant setback for the Chicago Blackhawks' rebuild efforts. The top-10 protection on the Florida Panthers' 2026 first-round pick means the Blackhawks must wait until 2027 to receive that asset, delaying their ability to quickly restock their prospect pool through the draft. The Blackhawks will now need to hope the Panthers climb the standings, rather than fall into the bottom 10, in order to get the pick they were counting on for 2026.