You couldn’t ask for a better first opponent. Just a few days after being acquired in a blockbuster deal, defenseman Seth Jones will make his debut with the Florida Panthers (37-21-3) when they host t

The general manager of the defending champs explains the decision to go get Jones and what else his team might need before the deadline.

A day after pulling off the deal that brought Jones in from the Chicago Blackhawks in exchange for goaltender Spencer Knight, Panthers general manager and hockey operations president Bill Zito said the Stanley Cup champions took their time before finally executing the move and agreeing to bring on Jones — who has five years left on a big-money contract.