The Florida Panthers’ big trade for Seth Jones isn’t working out quite like they hoped.
Jones, who the Toronto Maple Leafs tried hard to land before the trade deadline, has struggled to find his footing with his new team.
It seemed like a crushing blow for Toronto when Florida snagged Jones right from under them. The Panthers were already tough to beat, and adding a top defenseman like Jones should’ve made them even scarier.
But sometimes the best trades are the ones you don’t make.
The Panthers are dealing with more than just Jones’s disappointing play. They’re missing some key players – Matthew Tkachuk, Brad Marchand, and Aaron Ekblad are all out with injuries.
It’s been a rough stretch for Florida, who looked like they were ready to dominate the final weeks of the regular season. Instead, they’re limping toward the playoffs.
For the Maple Leafs, what felt like a missed opportunity might’ve actually been a lucky break. They kept their assets and avoided taking on a player who’s currently going through one of the toughest stretches of his career.
The Atlantic Division playoff race just got a lot more interesting.
