The New York Rangers need defensive help. They've struggled in their zone all season, but the Rangers have all the cap space to address their needs at the deadline. This has led to some unflattering rumors around players who aren't up to scratch, and some of the older generations have suggested the Rangers should call up the Chicago Blackhawks to acquire defenseman Seth Jones, who said he's tired of losing publicly but that would be a monumental mistake.
Jones was considered among the elite defensemen in the NHL a few years ago when he played for the Columbus Blue Jackets, but things have changed, and that is not the case anymore. Jones' decline in the Windy City has seen him become one of the worst contracts in the NHL, and teams will be better off trying to avoid the discussions that come with this player. He's been around long enough to know what he is.
Jones makes $9.5 million a year for the next four years and is already on the wrong side of 30. In 38 games this season, the Arlington, Texas native has six goals and 20 assists for 28 points. That's not the issue when it comes to Jones; he'll give you a few points as a capable powerplay quarterback; it's his inability to play the defensive side of the game highlights his issues.
Jones' defensive warts make him look significantly outmatched. At 5v5, Seth Jones has 2.71 goals for per 60 (GF/60) and 3.14 goals against per 60 (GA/60). Jones' expected goals for per 60 (xGF/60) are lower at 2.21, and his expected goals against per 60 (xGA/60) are still 3.11. To put this into perspective, they are worse than Ryan Lindgren's numbers, and he is considered the worst defenseman on the roster.
You can attribute parts of this to the Chicago Blackhawks being a tire fire, but that isn't the entire story with the 6'4 American. He's not what he used to be, and his contract worsens. Jones has stated that he's tired of losing, sparkling rumors surrounding him moving to a contending team, but that needs to be a team that isn't New York. The Blueshirts need to distance themselves from this potential boat anchor of a contract.