NHL Trade Rumors: Eight Chicago Blackhawks Who May End Up On the Block
Last week, I compiled a list of prospects the Chicago Blackhawks may need to part with if they expect to bolster their roster through a trade.
Now, let's turn a critical eye towards the players at the NHL level.
In order to obtain help at defense or center, Chicago may chose to put together a package of draft picks, prospects, and active roster players to get a deal done by the trade deadline. The point of moving a player with the Blackhawks would be to clear some cap room for a potential difference maker.
Or they may choose to stand pat and play the hand they've been playing all season.
Before we ponder any moves, let's take a look at the roster and rule out players that won't be traded this month...
Definitely Not On The Block
1 of 10
Jonathan Toews, Patrick Kane, Marian Hossa, and Duncan Keith aren't going anywhere because they make up our "core".
Niklas Hjalmarsson can't be moved during the season because we signed him to an offer sheet.
Patrick Sharp can't be moved because the city of Chicago would riot.
Brian Campbell and Brent Seabrook can't be moved because the point is to improve the defense.
Corey Crawford also seems safe from a trade as he is beginning to look like the man in goal for the Blackhawks for now and for the future.
I don't think Marty Turco goes anywhere because the Hawks can't go into the stretch run with Hannu Toivonen backing up Crawford.
Fernando Pisani, Ryan Johnson, Nick Boynton and John Scott aren't exactly attractive options to a team out of contention and looking to rebuild by dealing Chicago a top player.
I believe that in order to pry a player away from another NHL club, the Blackhawks would have to offer younger players that may help a team in the future. Let's count down eight Blackhawks who might fit the bill. I will start with players least likely to anchor a deal and work up to some more likely trade candidates.
8. Jordan Hendry
2 of 10
Hendry doesn't hold much trade value to the Blackhawks. Besides, he and Nick Leddy have formed an decent third line pairing at defense lately.
Chicago must see something in him, having resigned him last season. If he goes, it's as part of a package of players.
7. Jake Dowell
3 of 10
Dowell has been a good value for the Blackhawks. His offensive numbers are pretty similar to Bolland right now. He's a scrappy player, is sound defensively, and isn't afraid to tangle with opponents who mess with his guys.
Dowell is the type of young player who would be an asset to a rebuilding team. However, it's not likely that the Hawks would receive an impact player for him. Replacing the numbers and intangibles Dowell provides would be difficult at his salary, which is about $550,000.
.png?w=256 "NHL Mock Draft")
.jpg?w=256 "Kucherov Landing Spots")
.png?w=256)
6. Dave Bolland
4 of 10
Moving Bolland would free up over three million dollars in cap space to make a move. He is the only player making big money that could command a deal for an impact player.
Unfortunately, teams may stay away from a guy who is just over a year removed from back surgery.
Bolland is one of our more effective defensive forwards. Trading him would still leave us wanting at center, although Jake Dowell and Ryan Johnson could hold down the bottom two lines.
A trade for a center involving Bolland would be a lateral move at this point. The Hawks are just going to hope he can pick up his production on the offensive end down the stretch.
5. Bryan Bickell
5 of 10
I don't like the thought of moving Bickell for the same reasons he would be an attractive pickup for another NHL team.
He's got good size, a nice wrist shot, and he is signed for just above the league minimum for three seasons.
If all he does is rack up 25-35 points a season (he currently has 24), then he's a steal for the price.
Plus, trading him wouldn't really clear a lot of space.
4. Tomas Kopecky
6 of 10
Kopecky is on pace to put up career numbers despite being somewhat limited as a player. He is a UFA after this season and represents a 1.2 million dollar hit on the cap, which could begin to clear some room for a higher-salary player..
On the other hand, he's not really a top-six forward despite where he's been playing for Chicago. The thought of Kopecky losing faceoffs and taking questionable penalties isn't going to convince anyone to give up the kind of player the Blackhawks would be looking for in return.
3. Jack Skille
7 of 10
Again, Skille is not making a lot of money right now. He won't free up a lot of space. He does provide a lot of speed and energy and he is only 23. Young enough for a team to take gamble that his scoring touch comes around.
Skille is a RFA at the close of the season. His name has been involved in at least one deal, and may be the one you hear the most when talk of a Blackhawks trade surfaces.
2. Viktor Stalberg
8 of 10
Right now, Stalberg is a less-rugged version of Jack Skille. His potential helped Toronto pry Kris Versteeg from the Blackhawks. Would Chicago turn around and trade Stalberg for help at center or defense?
Stalberg is a RFA after this season and probably doesn't command a big raise with his play this season. However, he is really fast on his skates. In this day and age, that can be worth something.
1. Troy Brouwer
9 of 10
Brouwer started slow this season and I think still has the potential to be a top-six forward. He's still only 25 and is making just over a million dollars. He becomes a RFA at the end of the season.
Question one: Can the Hawks could replace Brouwer's numbers from within their ranks?
Question two: Is getting a center to make things happen on the second line required to make this team a contender?
If GM Stan Bowman feels the answer is yes to both, than Brouwer may just be his most valuable bargaining chip.
Conclusion: How Bad Is the Status Quo?
10 of 10
It seems unlikely that the Blackhawks are going to find that big difference maker via trade in the next few weeks.
Moving enough young players to make room for a bigger contract would weaken the roster, while the only big ticket player the Hawks could even begin to think of parting with (Bolland) plays the position of which they are most in need.
I would say Brouwer, Stalberg, or Skille would be first up for a move. However, with the defense playing better with Leddy and Hendry, coupled with Bolland playing so well with Bickell and Pisani, the team may very well go into the playoff hunt as is.
.png?w=480 "NHL Mock Draft")
.jpg?w=480 "Kucherov Landing Spots")
.png?w=480)
.png?w=600 "B/R NHL Staff Second-Round Predictions 🏒")
