The 26-year-old defenseman was traded to the Blackhawks by the Columbus Blue Jackets on Friday for Adam Boqvist, a first-round pick (No. 12) and a second-round selection (No. 44) in the 2021 NHL Draft, and a first-round pick in the 2022 or 2023 NHL Draft.
The Blackhawks received a first-round pick (No. 32, originally belonging to the Tampa Bay Lightning) and a sixth-round selection in the 2022 NHL Draft.
If Chicago's first-round pick in 2022 is one of the top two selections, the Blue Jackets will receive the Blackhawks' first-round pick in 2023.
Jones has one season remaining on the six-year, $32.4 million contract ($5.4 million average annual value) he signed June 29, 2016. The extension will begin in 2022-23.
Blackhawks general manager Stan Bowman said they would not have made the trade for Jones if they didn't "have confidence that we would be able to extend him."
"He's an impact defenseman that we've been searching for, for quite some time, and to finally be able to add him to our group here is a huge move for the whole group," Bowman said. "I think it changes the complexion of our defense in particular, but our team in general.
"We've had a chance to watch Seth emerge in the League as a top defenseman. He's one of the few players who can do everything. He certainly plays close to half the game, we love his competitiveness as well as his all-around game, he's got the size and the skating as well as the ability to play those tough minutes against top players. Every situation, from the power play to the penalty kill, he's the guy you want on the ice with a minute to go when you're protecting a lead as well as when you're down a goal. Those are tough to find, so when you get that opportunity to add someone like that, you have to do everything you can to bring him in."
Jones had said he would "weigh every option possible" regarding his ability to become an unrestricted free agent after next season, according to reports.
"He did not want to sign an extension with the Blue Jackets with one year remaining on his contract, so we decided to do the best we could to get the return that we need to continue to grow as a franchise," Columbus president of hockey operations John Davidson told ESPN. "Seth's a great guy, he's a great player, he had every right in the world to do what he did, and I don't hold anything
on Wednesday.
McCabe agreed to a four-year, $16 million contract ($4 million AAV). The 27-year-old defenseman sustained a knee injury last season and scored three points (one goal, two assists) in 13 games with the Buffalo Sabres. A second-round pick (No. 44) in the 2012 NHL Draft, McCabe has scored 77 points (18 goals, 59 assists) in 353 NHL games.
"I've got zero concerns (about lingering affects from his knee injury)," McCabe said. "My rehab's gone very, very well, the last month on the ice has gone really, really well, too. A lot of guys have had an ACL injury in hockey and have come back even stronger. I have no doubt my level will be even higher."
Khaira agreed to a two-year, $1.95 million contract ($975,000 AAV). The 26-year-old scored 11 points (three goals, eight assists) in 40 regular-season games and one goal in four playoff games with the Oilers last season. A third-round pick (No. 63) in the 2012 NHL Draft, Khaira has scored 63 points (24 goals, 39 assists) in 258 regular-season games and one goal in eight playoff games.
"The biggest thing for me was just, they seem very interested, and just the opportunity that I think that I have with the organization," Khaira said. "That was the biggest thing, just getting an opportunity.
"... At the end of the day, I have to come in and perform. They said there's opportunity throughout the lineup and on the penalty kill."
NHL.com staff writer Tracey Myers contributed to this report
