The Chicago Blackhawks sent defenseman Seth Jones to the defending Stanley Cup-champion Florida Panthers in a blockbuster trade Saturday night.

The Panthers acquired Jones, 30, and a 2026 fourth-round draft pick from the Blackhawks for goaltender Spencer Knight, 23, and a 2026 conditional first-round pick. Chicago is retaining part of Jones' contract through 2030, bringing his annual cap hit for the Panthers to $7 million. Jones makes $9.5 million against the salary cap and is in the third year of an eight-year contract. The Blackhawks will retain $2.5 million on Jones through 2030.

The first-round pick slides to 2027 if the Panthers trade their 2026 first-rounder before this year's draft.

Jones is in his 12th NHL season, having played for the Nashville Predators, Columbus Blue Jackets and the Blackhawks. He has 27 points in 42 games, skating 24:30 per game. Chicago acquired him from Columbus in 2021. Jones was selected No. 4 in the 2013 draft by the Predators.

"Seth is an elite veteran defenseman and a proven leader in our league," said Florida general manager Bill Zito, who was with the Blue Jackets when they picked up Jones from the Predators. "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."

Jones revealed recently that he had spoken to the Blackhawks about a trade out of Chicago, which has been in a prolonged rebuild. He had become more vocal recently about his dissatisfaction with the direction of the franchise.

"We're the exact same team right now as we were Game 1. It's pretty evident out there. We haven't made any strides to be a better, more simple hockey team, and it shows. We don't get a lot of wins because of that," Jones said this week after a 2-1 loss at the Utah Hockey Club. "This has been almost four years of bottom of the league."

Blackhawks general manager Kyle Davidson, in speaking with Chicago Sports Network, said that Jones' comments in Utah resonated, and helped to move the deal forward. "I felt a little more urgency, I would say, once that became public," he added.

Knight, the No. 13 pick in the 2019 draft, is in his fourth NHL season. He is 12-8-1 in 23 appearances with a .907 save percentage.

"No trade's easy," Davidson said. "But I think we landed in a great spot for the organization."