CHICAGO - Seth Jones returned to United Center for the first time since the Florida Panthers acquired him from the Chicago Blackhawks in March 2025, and the defenseman helped deliver a Panthers win over his former team, Florida Hockey Now reported.
Jones, working the top power-play unit, threw a puck toward the net that appeared to deflect off a Chicago defender and then off Matthew Tkachuk before sliding past goalie Spencer Knight - the same player sent to Chicago as part of the trade that brought Jones to Florida. Chicago tied the score at 2, but Lars Eller sealed the win for the Panthers on a wrist shot with 2:23 remaining.
“I had an experience here for four years,” Jones said after the game. “I learned a lot of things about myself, and so, I’m at where I’m at now. But I wish this organization nothing but the best.”
Jones had missed Florida’s game in Chicago last season due to a broken collarbone sustained at the Winter Classic, making Sunday his first appearance at the arena since the deal that sent Knight and a 2027 first-round draft pick to Chicago. The Blackhawks are paying $2.5 million of Jones’ $9.5 million annual contract, which runs four more seasons. Since joining Florida, Jones became a Stanley Cup champion.
“It was good to be back. I always enjoyed playing in this building,” Jones said. “It’s obviously a very historic building, an Original 6 team so you always get that feeling. The national anthem tonight … it’s always something that opposing teams think about when they come here, so it was always a good experience for me.”
Goalie Akira Schmid made 19 saves for his third win in six games, backed by 15 Panthers blocked shots against Chicago’s seven power-play attempts. The Blackhawks went 0-for-7 on the man advantage. With Jacob Markstrom sidelined by an injury sustained in practice last Monday, Schmid has taken over the starting role.
“They were putting their body in front of me nonstop,” Schmid said. “They did an unbelievable job. I think they’re a huge part of why we won this game.”
Knight, who started 55 games for Chicago last season after logging just 80 starts over four seasons with the Panthers, signed a three-year contract worth $17.5 million with the Blackhawks. The all-time regular season series between the franchises stands at 58-35-9 with 5 ties in favor of the Thrashers/Jets franchise - a record the Panthers will look to chip away at when they travel to face the Winnipeg Jets on Tuesday at 8 p.m. at Canada Life Center in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Florida then hosts the Detroit Red Wings on Monday, Nov. 2, at 7 p.m.