Werenski is a better defenseman in my opinion anyway, and is two years shorter. Given the shorter term, the slightly higher cap hit is more or less fine. Again, imo.
My main focus is who is the better defenseman. The 2 years on the contract OR 2 years in age OR UFA vs RFA. That doesn't concern me as much. I want the better defenseman on my team. Since they typically play together it's not as easy to say...who plays against the opposing teams top line. It's usually them together. Jones Anchors the PK. Jones does ALOT more of the dirty work that allows puck movers to do their job. Puck movers are easier to get in the NHL. Jones brought up Werenski and has had Norris consideration 4 out of 5 years....with last year being the exception because CBJ was a dumspter fire as a team. I do think Werenski is better offensively, but even as I say that...Jones has outscored Werenski 3 out of the last 4 years. If we want to project Weresnki to be Bobby Orr...fine. Project away. The real shame is we'll never know because Werenski will always get a "get out of jail free" card because the excuse will be his team sucks. Jones will literally have to win the Norris for people to say...meh I guess because the trade was too much...and it was too much. WAY too much. If we're just talking the better hockey player. It's Jones in my mind. I want the guy that will step in front of the puck in the playoffs. I want the guy built for playoff hockey AND can score.
Columbus did it to stop yet another star player from leaving town.
Chicago did it to distract the public from other things that are going on surrounding the franchise.
One's a necessity while the other is outright mischief.
There's a difference between "chicago did it" and the "GM did it"....Chicago didn't do anything, Bowman did it as GM and President. The players have come out and said they knew nothing about it besides one player named "John doe" who said all the players knew....that is BS. Now did Bowman as GM know something and not handle it correctly or Coach Q, likely Bowman maybe Coach Q, but the players all knowing about it and nobody stepped forward years ago besides one player is a fishy statement by "John Doe".