For the second time in a week, Blackhawks defenseman Seth Jones discussed his desire to seek a trade and join an NHL contender sooner than later. His first comments came Wednesday in an exclusive with the Sun-Times beat reporter Ben Pope. Then, Friday after practice, Jones elaborated on his statement to the assembled media.

 ”I’m 30 years old,” Jones said. “I think I still have some good years ahead. I hope maybe be in a situation where I’m competing for a Stanley Cup and at least, you know, playing meaningful games in May, and hopefully June, so. And that’s sort of where I’m at right now.”

Jones was asked if he had a timeline for when he’d like the trade to happen. “It’s hard to put a finger on it,” he said. “If it happens in the next two weeks, then it happens. Even if it’s in summer, it gets later on, then it is what it is. I have a full no-move, and I do control it, but at the same time, we only control so much. As long as I’m here as a Blackhawk, I wanna, I’m gonna give 100 percent effort, and max every night and help try to get this team better and better and grow.”

When asked if he sees the potential of the rebuilding Blackhawks, Jones replied: “I think things are moving up. They are moving forward, but I think my timeline might be different from Kyle [Davidson] and Norm [Maciver] and the Blackhawks’. It’s nothing against anybody. I’m not holding it against anybody and what they’re trying to do here, but sometimes it’s not in everyone’s plans.”

The NHL trade deadline is March 7th at 2 p.m. Could Seth Jones be on a different team by then? It’s complicated, but now that Jones has commented publicly on the matter, it could hasten things for all parties involved.

Stay tuned!