Seth Jones putting the Blackhawks in an awkward position before training camp

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Mike Armenti
September 17, 2023 (5:30 PM)

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I think just about everyone who has seen Connor Bedard play knows that he'll be an NHL captain one day. With the Chicago Blackhawks having parted ways with long-time captain Jonathan Toews this summer, the captaincy is currently vacant in Chicago, but if one Blackhawks defenseman has anything to say about it, the "C" won't be vacant for long and Bedard may have awhile to wait before he gets it.

Veteran defenseman Seth Jones is entering the 2nd year of his mammoth 8-year deal, which carries a $9.5M cap hit per season and has publicly stated this week that he has his eye on the "C" in Chicago. Jones has served as an alternate under Nick Foligno in Columbus, Jonathan Toews in Chicago and also learned a great deal from Shea Weber during their time together in Nashville. In that sense, perhaps he's ready to shoulder that burden.

Toews had served as captain of the Blackhawks since 2008, winning three Stanley Cups with the team in 2010, 2013 and 2015. With the Hawks transitioning through a full blown, top-to-bottom rebuild, they opted not to bring back veterans like Toews and Patrick Kane, instead shifting their focus to building around prospects like Bedard, Kevin Korchinski, Oliver Moore, Frank Nazar and others.

Jones isn't the only potential candidate for the captaincy in Chicago if the Hawks opt to name a captain this season. The aforementioned Nick Foligno is a prime candidate, as is another fellow veteran grinder in Corey Perry.. They've also got Taylor Hall, Tyler Johnson and Connor Murphy to consider.