The Chicago Blackhawks have been active ahead of Friday’s NHL Trade Deadline, making a few moves to sell pieces off in exchange for draft picks. With this being a seller’s market at the moment, it makes sense for the team to be open to moving players for whom the franchise does not see a future with. However, there is a bit of a downer if you are expecting the Blackhawks to continue trading away players. Let’s take a look at the latest update surrounding Chicago.

The Chicago Blackhawks could be done making trades

Scott Powers of The Athletic is reporting that the Blackhawks could be officially finished making trades ahead of Friday’s deadline. Below is the update that he wrote:

“The Blackhawks could be done for the deadline. They certainly don’t feel the same urgency they did earlier in the week. They thought they could utilize their two remaining cap retention spots and pile up some more early-round picks. They were able to do that by acquiring a first- and second-round pick from the Edmonton Oilers for Connor Murphy and Jason Dickinson.

“It’s possible the Blackhawks could still move Nick Foligno and Ilya Mikheyev in the next few days. If the Columbus Blue Jackets or someone came calling for Foligno, it’d be up to him if he wanted to be dealt. The Blackhawks will show him that courtesy. With Mikheyev, the Blackhawks were hoping to re-sign him, but he’s rejected their offer so far. There’s still an outside chance that could happen before the deadline. And if he doesn’t re-sign or get traded by the deadline Friday, there is always the possibility that both sides take the additional time to negotiate some more.”

The Blackhawks have made a few trades this season that have helped them acquire draft capital for upcoming drafts. With the team out of the playoff picture and hitting the reset button on the 2025-26 season, it will be intriguing to see if a contending team can come up with an offer that makes them reconsider.

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The Chicago Blackhawks are one of the more intriguing teams ahead of Friday’s NHL Trade Deadline. Despite having a team that is in contention for one of the top picks in the draft, they could trade away some players and see what they have with some of their younger talent. There is an interesting name that could be moved in the next couple of days, so let’s take a closer look at who it is.

The Chicago Blackhawks could trade away Ilya Mikheyev before Friday’s trade deadline

Scott Powers of The Athletic wrote an article where he discussed what he has heard regarding the Blackhawks ahead of Friday’s NHL Trade Deadline. In the article, he discussed how right winger Ilya Mikheyev could be one of the players who is traded before the deadline. Below is what he wrote about Mikheyev:

“Ilya Mikheyev could also still be traded. As with [Jason] Dickinson, it would have to be the right offer to make a Mikheyev trade worthwhile. There is also still an outside chance the Blackhawks will re-sign Mikheyev. He turned down their latest offer, but the talks aren’t necessarily dead.”

Mikheyev has been a good player for the Blackhawks since joining ahead of last season. In 136 games with Chicago over the last two seasons, he has recorded 57 points (31 goals, 26 assists) while being +2 when on the ice. He is on the final season of a four-year, $19 million contract that he signed with the Vancouver Canucks. Powers did mention how the Blakhawks could still re-sign Mikheyev this offseason, which could be something that happens whether he is traded or not this week.

The team has not been shy about trading players, already dealing away defenseman Connor Murphy to the Edmonton Oilers. It will be intriguing to see what the Blackhawks decide to do, as there are certainly going to be some teams that are looking to add to their second or third lines with a player on an expiring deal.

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The NHL trade deadline is approaching fast and the Chicago Blackhawks will likely make a few moves. There are no expectations for blockbuster transactions, as they have no crippling cap deals to unload or high-value veterans to trade for mass draft capital. A series of smaller moves, garnering moderate returns at best, feels like the likely outcome.

Much of the roster is made up of young players or veterans with solidified spots on the team going forward. Thus, the speculative focus will on the handful of veterans on expiring deals.

Candidates for the Blackhawks to move.

The one who stands out the most is defenseman Connor Murphy, the longest-tenured Blackhawk, who is in the last year of his four-year deal ($4.4 million AAV). The 32-year old has 12 points with a -5 +/- and is averaging 16:30 of ice time a game this season. Contending teams will be looking for more blue line depth, and for what it’s worth, he’s been playing better recently. Murphy served his time in Chicago, but he’s not part of the team’s future plans.

The other veteran defenseman on the team on an expiring deal is Matt Grzelcyk. He’s been durable, playing in all 57 games so far. While not out of the question to move, one can argue that having him stick around as a vet among the young defensemen is worth more than what the Blackhawks would get in a trade. Especially if Murphy is dealt.

There are three veteran forwards on expiring deals: Nick Foligno, Jason Dickinson, Ilya Mikheyev, and Sam Lafferty. It’s hard to imagine the Blackhawks wanting to trade their captain and mentor to Connor Bedard. Unless Foligno wants one more chance at Stanley Cup glory and Kyle Davidson does right by him. Mikheyev has been a decent third-line forward, sporting 31 goals and 57 points in 132 games. He does have a modified NTC, and keeping him could be beneficial for the team’s development the rest of the season, but he’s still a possibility. The team has a handful of centers, and Dicksonson ($4,250,000 AAV) could easily be an odd man out.

Others on the Blackhawks roster

Don’t expect the Blackhawks to move the likes of Tyler Bertuzzi or Ryan Donato. Bertuzzi is under contract through 2027-2028 and currently leads the team in goals (25), while Donato was just extended through 2028-2029. They have solidified roles going forward.

Teuvo Teräväinen is under contract for another season. He’s posting “meh” numbers at best, making $5.4 million this year, and has had a recent injury. It would be a bit surprising if he got moved regardless. They signed him to be a stable forward presence. André Burakovsky is another vet under contract for another season who has also been pretty pedestrian since a good start (3 goals, 9 assists over his last 30 games) while making $5.5 million. Possible to get moved, but not necessarily high.

Strange things have happened, so there’s always potential for surprise. The odds of that just seem very low. The Blackhawks are past the point of tearing things down; it’s now about building on that foundation.

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The Chicago Blackhawks are fighting to be in the postseason picture as they are currently five points out of the final Western Conference Wild Card spot. The team has some intriguing options that they can make as we are getting closer to the NHL Trade Deadline. Chicago has some pieces that they can move ahead of the deadline, so let’s take a closer look at what their biggest piece is right now.

The Chicago Blackhawks’ biggest trade piece is Connor Murphy

NHL’s Adam Gretz wrote an article discussing every team’s best bargaining chip they can use at the 2026 NHL Trade Deadline. For the Blackhawks, Connor Murphy’s name was selected and he wrote the following about why he believes this is the case:

“The Blackhawks have shown some improvement this season, but are still probably not quite ready for a playoff spot. They figure to be sellers again, but should not be in a full teardown mode. Eventually, they need to start focusing on talent acquisition. Still, Murphy could be an attractive option on the trade market given his strong defensive and physical play, and the fact that there aren’t many defensemen likely to be available.

“The Blackhawks also have a number of young defensemen just breaking into the NHL who need bigger roles and minutes. He has been a strong, reliable player on some bad teams in Chicago, and now he might get a chance to play for a contender after the deadline.”

Murphy is a solid veteran who is in the final year of a four-year contract worth $17.6 million. With a $4.4 million average annual value this year, and that number being closer to $2 million with where we are in the season, this is something a contending team could view as a valuable addition for a playoff push. Murphy has nine points (two goals, seven assists) through 50 games thus far and has shown himself to be a strong defenseman on the ice. This would be a sentimental hit as well, though, with Murphy being the longest-tenured Blackhawks player on the roster.

It will be intriguing to see if the Blackhawks decide to move him and if so, what return he brings for the franchise.

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The Chicago Blackhawks have been one of the teams in the bottom of the NHL standings, but they have a lot of talent. One name who has been a top-tier player when on the ice is center Connor Bedard.

He has shown the ability to dominate already in his young career, but he could be getting the nod to join his countrymen. Let’s take a closer look at what one writer said regarding his chances to make the 2026 Winter Olympics.

Connor Bedard is a sleeper pick to join Team Canada

NHL’s Tracey Myers suggested that Bedard is one of the biggest sleeper picks for the Olympics, as he should be part of Team Canada.

“The Chicago Blackhawks forward was on the outside looking in regarding Team Canada when the season began but momentum started building for him after his tremendous start. He’s out with an upper-body injury until at least the start of January but I still believe he deserves a spot with Canada. When Bedard was placed on injured reserve Dec. 15, he had 44 points (19 goals, 25 assists) in 31 games. At the time, he was fourth in the NHL behind Nathan MacKinnon of the Colorado Avalanche (55), Connor McDavid of the Edmonton Oilers (52) and Macklin Celebrini of the San Jose Sharks (47). Bedard has come into his game in a big way and once he’s back, he should be prepping for the Olympics.”

This is also not the only Blackhawks player to be named on this list either as Tyler Bertuzzi also was also mentioned for Team Canada. Bedard has the potential to be the next face of Team Canada, and making the 2026 Winter Olympic team would certainly be a step forward to that. Sidney Crosby is 38 years old, Nathan MacKinnon is 30, and  Sam Reinhart is also 30. Getting a young potential face of the NHL on the Olympic roster would be critical for Team Canada and hockey as a whole.

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The Chicago Blackhawks have some players who would fit perfectly in the 2026 Winter Olympics. While the deadline for the 12 teams to submit their rosters is Dec. 31, with the announcement of players coming soon after, there is one Blackhawks player who has made a case to be joining the roster. He may not be the first name you think of for a spot on the Olympic team, but he has shown the ability to dominate. There will be some tough decisions to make, so let’s take a look at one Chicago player who has made a case for himself to be a sleeper option for the Olympics.

NHL writers believe Tyler Bertuzzi is a sleeper pick for the 2026 Winter Olympics

In an article where NHL writers suggested sleeper picks for the 2026 Winter Olympic teams, editor-in-chief Bill Price decided Team Canada should add Tyler Bertuzzi to their squad. Below is the snippet he wrote about the Blackhawks’ left winger:

“Yes, [Connor] Bedard is the leader of the Blackhawks, and if he’s healthy, he should represent Canada. And while Bedard has gotten most of the attention, Bertuzzi has been just as effective for the Blackhawks, especially in the so-called dirty areas of the ice. Per NHL EDGE stats, Bertuzzi has scored 15 goals from high-danger areas, which is tied for the NHL lead with Jake Guentzel of the Tampa Bay Lightning. The high-danger area is the area within 29 feet of the center of the goal and bound on both sides by an imaginary line drawn from the face-off dot to two feet outside the goal post. In layman’s terms, not only is he unafraid to go into the tight areas around the net; he also has a knack for scoring greasy goals. Canada needs a guy like that.”

Each country has already submitted six names for the preliminary rosters back in June. Team Canada announced the following players at that time:

• Sidney Crosby
• Nathan MacKinnon
• Cale Makar
• Connor McDavid
• Brayden Point
• Sam Reinhart

Team Canada is expected to be loaded with talent and not have anyone on that preliminary list who is considered a winger in the NHL. However, with the immense talent, they will use centers and move them around the ice instead. It would be massive for the Blackhawks’ left winger as he has never played in the Olympics before, just won a silver medal in the 2019 IIHF World Championship. This season, Bertuzzi has 26 points (16 goals, 10 assists) and has played well to improve his standing in the league. It will be interesting to see if his name is among the players selected for Team Canada this time around.

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The Chicago Blackhawks actually got off to a solid start this NHL season and sat a respectable 10-5-4 after winning five out of six between Nov. 5 and Nov. 18.

Since then, however, the Blackhawks have lost 10 of their last 13 games, eight of which came in regulation. They are now 13-13-6 and are on the outskirts of playoff contention in the Western Conference, and with Chicago having one of the youngest teams in the league, it may be time for the team to unload some veterans.

The Blackhawks have multiple players who could be dealt between now and the March 6 trade deadline, and long-time defenseman Connor Murphy is definitely one of the prime candidates to be jettisoned in the coming weeks and months.

Murphy has spent the last nine seasons in Chicago, and while he was a very valuable member of the squad in his early days, it may be time for the Blackhawks to move on from the 32-year-old. But which teams could potentially make a run at Murphy?

The Chicago Blackhawks have been linked to a trade with the Detroit Red Wings

The Detroit Red Wings seem primed to make the playoffs for the first time since 2016, so you can bet they will be trying to buy some pieces before the deadline.

There is no question that the Red Wings lack depth and could stand to add another defenseman, so it should come as no surprise that Michael DeRosa of The Hockey News has listed Detroit as a potential trade partner for Chicago if Murphy becomes available.

“The Red Wings could use more help on the right side of their defense, so it would make a lot of sense for them to pursue Murphy,” DeRosa wrote. “He would give them an upgrade for the right side of their bottom pairing.”

It would certainly sting to move a player who has been with the franchise for so long, but let’s be hones: the Blackhawks are in rebuilding mode, and it wouldn’t make much sense to hold on to Murphy, who is slated to hit free agency at the end of the season.

Chicago has made the playoffs just once in the last nine campaigns, which comes on the heels of the Blackhawks capturing three Stanley Cup championships between 2010 and 2015. Those glory days are long gone, and for Chicago to rekindle them, it will have to continue making smart moves.

The good news is that the Blackhawks seem to be trending in a positive direction.

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The Chicago Blackhawks sit third in the Central Division early this season, with a 3-2-2 record and eight points.

The Blackhawks’ latest win against the Anaheim Ducks can be attributed to their goalie, Spencer Knight. Knight is proving to be a core player for the Hawks and someone who can be counted on to block any shot.

More News: Chicago Blackhawks irate after controversial call leads to 3-2 loss

Spencer Knight has been on fire for the Chicago Blackhawks

Knight has been money between the posts to start this season for the Blackhawks, having a save percentage of .937% and a 1.96 goals-against average, per Bleacher Report Open Ice. This is an improvement from last season, where Knight allowed 3.18 GAA and had a .896% save percentage in 15 games, after he was traded over from the Stanley Cup Winners, the Florida Panthers.

His 1.96 GAA is eighth in the NHL, while his .937% save percentage puts him in the top five.

Spencer Knight in his first 5 games this season:

.937 SV%
1.96 GAA

Blackhawks might have their guy pic.twitter.com/2o5uBzgWn5

— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) October 20, 2025

Spencer Knight looks like the future goaltender for the Blackhawks

Signed through the 2029 season and only 24 years old, Knight has a bright future ahead of him with the Blackhawks, as he, and Conner Bedard are forming a nucleus of a future contender for the Stanley Cup.

Coming off a solid 2-1 overtime win against the Ducks, where Knight made 38 saves, with the only goal coming on a power-play with 35.8 seconds left in the third period, the Blackhawks are in a good position moving forward when they play the Tampa Bay Lightning, who are riding a three-game losing streak.

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The Chicago Blackhawks appear ready to move on from young forward Lukas Reichel, as trade discussions surrounding the 23-year-old have intensified in recent days. According to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman on 32 Thoughts: The Podcast, multiple teams have expressed interest in acquiring Reichel, with offers reportedly centered around late-round draft picks.

While Chicago hasn’t made an official move yet, all indications point toward the organization exploring the market and weighing its best possible return for the former first-round selection.

Chicago Blackhawks field offers for Lukas Reichel

Friedman noted that there is “no shortage of interest” in Lukas Reichel, but emphasized that the Blackhawks are being patient in their approach. With several teams inquiring about the young forward, general manager Kyle Davidson appears to be gauging market value before finalizing any potential deal.

At just 23 years old, Reichel remains an intriguing talent. Drafted 17th overall in the 2020 NHL Draft, he entered Chicago’s system with high expectations and was once considered a key piece of the team’s long-term rebuild. However, his development has not gone as planned.

Reichel has struggled to cement his place in the Blackhawks’ top six, especially under new head coach Jeff Blashill, whose system emphasizes structure and defensive responsibility. Despite showing flashes of offensive brilliance, his style hasn’t meshed well with the team’s evolving identity — one that prioritizes two-way consistency over pure offensive flair.

As a result, Reichel has found himself stuck in an unenviable position: too skilled for a bottom-six role yet unable to consistently break through in the top lines. That imbalance has limited his opportunities and productivity, ultimately leading the Blackhawks to consider parting ways.

Insider Frank Seravalli of Daily Faceoff also confirmed that Chicago has been “actively shopping” Reichel and anticipates that a deal could come together “likely before next week.” The expected return would likely fall in the mid-to-late-round pick range, a modest price tag for a player who was once a top prospect within the organization.

Why Lukas Reichel from Chicago Blackhawks Still Holds Value on the Trade Market

Although Reichel’s tenure in Chicago hasn’t lived up to its initial promise, his skill set ensures he won’t be short on suitors. Despite recording a disappointing eight goals and 22 points in 70 games during the 2024–25 season, his speed, puck-handling ability, and offensive instincts make him an attractive reclamation project for teams seeking a low-cost, high-upside forward.

In the AHL, Reichel showcased his potential, producing back-to-back 50-point seasons with the Rockford IceHogs, Chicago’s affiliate. That track record has kept several organizations interested, especially those that believe a change of scenery could unlock his offensive ceiling.

According to reports, a few potential suitors have already emerged:

Montreal Canadiens: Seeking young offensive depth as they continue their rebuild.

Carolina Hurricanes: Interested in adding a fast, skilled winger who can complement their speed-driven system.

Vegas Golden Knights: Looking for affordable scoring options to round out their bottom-six rotation.

For these teams, Reichel represents a low-risk, high-reward investment, a player who still has room to develop and could thrive in a system that allows him more offensive freedom.

From Chicago’s perspective, moving Reichel could help clear up roster space for emerging talents like Frank Nazar, Oliver Moore, and Colton Dach, who are all pushing for regular NHL minutes. It also gives the front office more flexibility heading into the 2025–26 campaign as they continue building around cornerstone players like Connor Bedard and Kevin Korchinski.

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The Chicago Blackhawks return home to the United Center on Tuesday night for the first time this preseason, hosting the Detroit Red Wings in a Central Division rivalry showdown. After opening the exhibition slate with three consecutive road games, Chicago enters its home opener with a 2-1-0 preseason record and a roster that is now much closer to its regular-season version.

With just one week to go before the Blackhawks open the 2025–26 regular season against the Florida Panthers, Tuesday night’s contest will serve as another key step in determining the final lineup. Head coach Jeff Blashill, in his first game behind the Chicago bench at the United Center, will look to keep his team’s momentum rolling after back-to-back victories over the weekend.

Chicago Blackhawks nearing final roster decisions

The Blackhawks opened their preseason with a disappointing 3-2 loss to the Red Wings last Tuesday at Little Caesars Arena. Connor Bedard and Wyatt Kaiser scored in that game, but Detroit controlled the play for long stretches. Since then, however, Chicago has bounced back in a big way, defeating the St. Louis Blues and Minnesota Wild.

On Saturday, the Blackhawks rallied from a two-goal deficit with four unanswered goals in the third period to stun the Blues 4-2. Then on Sunday, rookie forward Frank Nazar stole the spotlight with a hat trick in a 4-1 victory over the Wild. Nazar, playing on the second line with Tyler Bertuzzi and Teuvo Teravainen, looks poised for a breakout in his first full NHL season.

Chicago’s lineup on Tuesday is expected to closely resemble the group that will open the regular season. The top two forward lines, Ryan Donato, Connor Bedard, Andre Burakovsky, and Tyler Bertuzzi, Frank Nazar, Teuvo Teravainen, appear locked in. Meanwhile, competition continues among younger players in the bottom six.

Lineup Outlook:

The top two forward lines appear set:

• Ryan Donato – Connor Bedard – Andre Burakovsky
• Tyler Bertuzzi – Frank Nazar – Teuvo Teravainen

Bottom six battles:

• Oliver Moore with Jason Dickinson & Ilya Mikheyev
• Ryan Greene & Colton Dach with captain Nick Foligno

Defense Pairings:

• Matt Grzelcyk – Sam Rinzel
• Wyatt Kaiser – Artyom Levshunov
• Ethan Del Mastro – Connor Murphy

Oliver Moore, Ryan Greene, and Colton Dach are each fighting for roster spots and will play significant roles against Detroit. Moore lines up with Jason Dickinson and Ilya Mikheyev on the third line, while Greene and Dach are alongside veteran leader Nick Foligno on the fourth line.

Defensively, the Blackhawks are giving another look to veteran Matt Grzelcyk, in camp on a professional tryout (PTO). His experience could be an asset if the younger defensemen falter. Ethan Del Mastro is one of those players in need of a rebound performance after struggling in his first two preseason outings. On the flip side, 2024 No. 2 overall pick Artyom Levshunov has impressed of late, especially in Sunday’s win, and appears to have solidified his spot on the NHL roster.

Game Information

• Matchup: Detroit Red Wings (2-3-0) @ Chicago Blackhawks (2-1-0 preseason)
• Time: 7:00 p.m. CT
• Location: United Center, Chicago
• TV/Stream: CHSN+, CHSN App, Blackhawks website, ESPN+ (outside broadcast areas)
• Radio: WGN 720 AM, Blackhawks App

Between the pipes, Spencer Knight will make his second preseason start. Knight was stellar in his debut on Saturday, stopping 31 of 33 shots in a win over the Blues. Arvid Soderblom will serve as the backup.

Detroit Red Wings wrap up their preseason

While the

are fine-tuning their roster, the Red Wings are set to conclude their preseason schedule Tuesday night. Detroit is coming off a loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins on Monday and will be playing on the second half of a back-to-back. As a result, several veterans who suited up against Pittsburgh, including former Chicago Blackhawks Patrick Kane, Alex DeBrincat, Erik Gustafsson, and Ian Mitchell, are not expected to play in Chicago.

Instead, fans at the United Center may see Dylan Larkin and Lucas Raymond in action, as both could use one final tune-up before the regular season begins. The Red Wings enter the matchup with a 2-3-0 preseason record and will be aiming to finish on a high note before shifting their focus to opening night.

With just two preseason games remaining, Tuesday against the Red Wings and Saturday’s finale against the Blues, the Chicago Blackhawks are closing in on their opening night roster. For young players like Dach, Greene, and Moore, as well as bubble defensemen like Del Mastro and Grzelcyk, the pressure is on to make every shift count.

For Blashill, meanwhile, there is an added layer of emotion: this is his first home game behind the Chicago Blackhawks’ bench, and it comes against the Red Wings, the team he coached for seven years. A win over his old squad would not only continue Chicago’s preseason momentum but also set the tone for a new era on home ice.

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The Chicago Blackhawks continued shaping their roster ahead of the 2025–26 season by making a series of training camp moves on Tuesday. The club announced four transactions, reducing the camp roster to 38 players as the team prepares for the next stage of preseason. With several prospects now headed to the Rockford IceHogs, competition within the remaining group of forwards, defensemen, and goaltenders is only set to intensify.

Chicago Blackhawks sent four players to Rockford

Among the notable moves was forward Jackson Cates, who was released from his professional tryout (PTO) contract and subsequently assigned to the Rockford IceHogs in the AHL. Cates, who spent last season in the American League, brought experience and effort to training camp, but the Blackhawks ultimately decided to keep their NHL forward group tight as younger players continue to make an impression.

The Blackhawks officially reassigned four players from camp:

• Jackson Cates (F): Released from his professional tryout (PTO) and assigned to Rockford.
• Gavin Hayes (F): Assigned to Rockford.
• Martin Misiak (F): Assigned to Rockford.
• Stanislav Berezhnoy (G): Assigned to Rockford.

Two promising forwards, Gavin Hayes and Martin Misiak, were also reassigned to Rockford. Hayes, a 2022 third-round pick, is coming off an impressive junior career and will now begin his professional development in the AHL. Misiak, drafted in the second round of the 2023 NHL Draft, will likewise benefit from consistent minutes with the IceHogs as he adjusts to the pace of North American hockey.

The fourth move involved goaltender Stanislav Berezhnoy, who will join Rockford as part of the IceHogs’ netminding depth. Berezhnoy’s assignment provides Chicago’s AHL affiliate with additional options in goal as they prepare for their own training camp and upcoming season.

With these moves, the IceHogs’ roster continues to take shape, and the organization remains aligned in its effort to build strong pipelines between the NHL and AHL clubs. Both Hayes and Misiak are seen as high-upside prospects whose growth in Rockford will be crucial to the Blackhawks’ long-term future.

Chicago Blackhawks current roster outlook: 38 players remain

Following the latest roster adjustments, the Chicago Blackhawks’ training camp roster now features 38 players: 21 forwards, 12 defensemen, and five goaltenders. This reduction continues the trend of narrowing the camp to a more manageable number as preseason progresses and the coaching staff evaluates who fits best at the NHL level.

The current mix showcases a balance of established veterans, rising stars, and young players vying for roster spots. Veterans like Connor Murphy, Nick Foligno, and newcomer Andre Burakovsky provide leadership and stability, while the spotlight remains on franchise cornerstone Connor Bedard and top prospects such as Frank Nazar, Sam Rinzel, and Artyom Levshunov.

The remaining preseason games will be crucial for players on the bubble. Forward Colton Dach, for example, has impressed with his physical style and willingness to embrace a power-forward role. Defensemen like Kevin Korchinski, Wyatt Kaiser, and Ethan Del Mastro are also pushing to secure permanent NHL roles. With just days left before final rosters are submitted, every shift and scrimmage will carry added weight.

For Rockford, the influx of players reassigned from Chicago means more depth and internal competition as they prepare to open their season. The IceHogs will look to integrate these young players quickly, helping them adapt to professional hockey and develop the habits that will eventually make them NHL-ready.

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Chicago Blackhawks forward Colton Dach is making a strong case to secure a full-time NHL role in the 2025–26 season. During the team’s preseason opener against the Detroit Red Wings, Dach showcased the physical edge and skill set that new head coach Jeff Blashill envisions as essential to the roster.

From exchanging shoves with opponents to creating scoring chances, Dach’s performance reflected exactly what the Blackhawks need from a young power forward eager to solidify his place.

Physical Play and Growing Confidence for Colton Dach

Within the first minute of Tuesday’s game, Dach delivered everything the coaching staff has been asking of him: grit, strength, and offensive creativity. He finished a big check, challenged Detroit’s Austin Watson, and generated a quality backhanded shot from the slot. Standing 6-foot-4 and weighing 220 pounds, Dach thrives on playing physically and being “in the middle of things,” as he described after a recent practice.

This mindset is not new for the 22-year-old. The Blackhawks have consistently encouraged Dach to embrace his size and edge over the last three seasons. Despite injuries slowing his progress, Dach has demonstrated flashes of dominance, including a strong stretch with the AHL’s Rockford IceHogs two years ago and a late-season NHL surge last year. Over a 10-game span starting March 1, Chicago posted an impressive 55.47% expected goals rate at five-on-five with Dach on the ice.

While an elbow injury in late March ended his NHL season early, Dach returned to Rockford for the Calder Cup playoffs, where his physical presence again stood out. He relished the confrontational, playoff-style hockey, proving he could handle the intensity and protect teammates when needed.

Blashill’s Vision for Colton Dach’s Role

Coach Jeff Blashill believes Dach can carve out a critical spot in the Blackhawks’ lineup, potentially as a top-six forward alongside elite talent like Connor Bedard. “He’s got enough skill to play with good players,” Blashill said. “Where he can separate himself is by being a big power forward, being physical on the forecheck, hard at the net front, and adding team toughness.”

That toughness includes a willingness to fight when necessary. With enforcer Pat Maroon no longer on the roster, Blashill sees Dach as a player who can bring much-needed grit and camaraderie to the ice. Dach welcomes that responsibility, saying he’s never been afraid to stand up for teammates: “If it has to happen, it has to happen. That’s part of being a bigger guy and a stronger physical presence.”

Training camp has only reinforced Blashill’s confidence. Dach opened alongside veterans Sam Lafferty and Nick Foligno and was later promoted to a line with Bedard and Ryan Donato after an injury to André Burakovsky. In Tuesday’s preseason game, Dach logged 16:21 of ice time, led the team with six hits, and recorded two shots on goal.

Now entering his third professional season, Dach feels more comfortable and vocal in the locker room, fueled by last year’s NHL experience and familiarity with the staff and teammates. His focus is on proving he belongs for a full 82-game schedule and helping the Blackhawks push toward the playoffs.

With his unique combination of size, speed, and edge, Colton Dach is showing he can become a cornerstone power forward for the Chicago Blackhawks if he can stay healthy and continue to deliver the physical, two-way game his coaches and teammates expect.

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The Chicago Blackhawks wrapped up their fourth day of training camp on Sunday with another intense practice session, as players continued to sharpen their skills and conditioning ahead of the 2025–26 NHL season.

While the on-ice work was spirited, head coach Jeff Blashill addressed a few absences that caught the attention of fans and media. Fortunately for Chicago, none of the latest updates appears to be cause for major concern.

Burakovsky Sidelined Briefly for Chicago Blackhawks

Two notable names missing from Sunday’s skate were defenseman Connor Murphy and newly acquired forward Andre Burakovsky. Blashill clarified that Murphy’s absence was simply a maintenance day, a common occurrence during the grind of training camp for veteran players.

Maintenance days are designed to give experienced players a brief physical reset, ensuring they remain healthy for the long season ahead. Murphy, a key part of Chicago’s blue line and one of the team’s most reliable defenders, is expected to log heavy minutes against top competition in 2025–26. Taking a precautionary rest day helps prevent minor aches from developing into something more serious. Fans can rest easy knowing Murphy’s absence was purely preventative, and he is slated to return to practice Monday morning.

The Chicago Blackhawks currently have Connor Murphy and Andre Burakovsky as scheduled to practice on Monday morning.

Brett Seney and Landon Slaggert, who each left practice early today, are listed as unavailable. https://t.co/jhlp8p559m

— Vinnie Parise (@VinnieParise) September 22, 2025

Burakovsky, entering his first season with the Chicago Blackhawks, was also absent due to a lower-body injury. Blashill described the issue as “nothing too serious,” emphasizing that the skilled winger is expected back at practice on Monday as well. The team will certainly want Burakovsky healthy and integrated into their system, as his offensive creativity and playoff experience are expected to play a significant role in Chicago’s top-six forward group.

Additional Updates from Sunday’s Practice

While Murphy and Burakovsky drew the most attention, they weren’t the only players unavailable. AJ Spellacy, Ty Henry, and goaltender Laurent Brossoit were already known to be out before Sunday’s session, with their absences previously explained by the team.

During practice, both Brett Seney and Landon Slaggert left the ice early and were listed as unavailable for the remainder of the day. The team has not provided further details on their statuses, but Blashill did not indicate any serious injuries. Monitoring their participation in Monday’s session will be important as the Blackhawks continue camp.

Despite these absences, the overall mood around the rink remained positive. The fourth day of camp featured high-paced drills and competitive scrimmages, with the coaching staff focusing on conditioning and system play. With so many young players competing for limited roster spots, the intensity was high as prospects sought to make lasting impressions.

The Blackhawks’ training camp has already showcased their promising mix of experienced veterans and talented newcomers. Connor Bedard, fresh off a stellar rookie campaign, continues to look dynamic and confident, while defensive prospects like Sam Rinzel and Artyom Levshunov are turning heads with their poise and puck movement.

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The Chicago Blackhawks have had a quiet offseason, making only a few trades here and there, and signing one player, C/W Ryan Donato, to a four-year deal. The Blackhawks decided to add another player to that list, re-signing one of their young guys, with defenseman Louis Crevier inking an extension.

Chicago Blackhawks ink an extension with their young defenseman

The Blackhawks have made another move to improve their roster, announcing via their X account that they’ve re-signed defenseman Louis Crevier to a two-year deal with a $900,000 salary cap hit. The Blackhawks drafted Creivier in the seventh round (188th overall) in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft and have spent the past two seasons with the team (2023-2025).

“more Louis Crevier”

more Louis Crevier

︎ https://t.co/zX3PaOzIq9 pic.twitter.com/l2v8q0AC9i

— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) July 17, 2025

The Blackhawks are keeping their young core together

The Blackhawks are signaling their intent to build around their young nucleus of players, led by Connor Bedard, by issuing Crevier a new deal. Crevier has played in 56 games for the Blackhawks over the past two seasons and has scored three goals and seven points.

Last season for the Blackhawks, Crevier played in 32 games, scoring the first three goals of his career, one assist, and four points. Crevier’s new contract will keep him with the Blackhawks until after the 2027-2028 season, when he becomes a restricted free agent.

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The Chicago Blackhawks enter the offseason with some optimism, especially after finishing last in the Central Division last season. The Blackhawks have a nice group of young players, led by star Connor Bedard, and will be coached by Jeff Blashill, who should help turn things around.

Blashill has prior head coaching experience, being the head coach with the Detroit Red Wings, whom he coached from 2015 to 2022, his hometown team, as he was born in Detroit, Michigan. Even though Blashill may be the right guy to coach the Blackhawks, one of his former players feels otherwise and didn’t hold back in criticizing his former coach.

Utah Mammoths defenseman doesn’t mince his words when talking about Blashill

Before Blashill can even coach and get a game under his belt with the Blackhawks, he is already drawing criticism for how he coaches, with one of his former players, Utah Mammoth defenseman Mikhail Sergachev, who sounded off on how terrible Blashill was when he had him as a coach with the Tampa Bay Lightning. Sergachev was with the Lightning from 2017 to 2024, and was under Blashill when he was their assistant coach, and said on the “Smol Talk” podcast (a Russian hockey podcast) that Blashill came in and completely changed their system after they had gone to three finals.

Sergachev on Blashill:

“And then we changed our system – the coach from Detroit came in. I mean, we had gone to three finals, and this guy comes in and says: ‘We’re not playing like that anymore. Now we’re playing like [explative] Vegas.’ And we’re all like, ‘Why?’ He goes, ‘They have a better system. It’ll work for us.’ Well, it didn’t work for me. Didn’t work for anyone. Everyone ended up with a negative plus-minus, we were all getting outscored.”

Blashill, in his two seasons as the Lightning’s assistant coach, went 138-86-20, while he went 204-261-72 with the Red Wings.

The future is now for the Chicago Blackhawks

The Blackhawks have been relatively quiet this offseason, outside of hiring Blashill, making a few trades, and selecting Anton Frondell third overall in this year’s draft. The management of the Blackhawks has decided not to sign veterans after the production they got from them last season, and instead is focused on their young core.

Blashill has a tough job ahead of him, but there is enough talent on the roster to get things turned around. This upcoming 2025-2026 season marks the 100th season in the Blackhawks’ history, and hopefully, it will be better than last season.

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The Chicago Blackhawks’ roster will be a harder one to make out of camp this fall compared to the previous few seasons. General manager Kyle Davidson had the right idea in mind last summer when he brought in a handful of veterans in free agency to have more NHL-level talent ready to roll on opening night. This didn’t change where the team finished in the league standings from the previous year, as the Blackhawks ended the most recent campaign 31st in points.

One difference in the last two seasons is how this most recent one came to a close. More young talent in the organization’s prospect pool signed their entry-level contracts within the final five weeks of the season, and the energy immediately shifted on the ice. The pace in which the group played with the end the year was much different to what fans have been used to seeing over the past few years.

All of these entry-level deals will create for interesting optional battles in certain spots at camp this fall. A few young players could be on the cusp of making the roster to begin the season, and one of those guys was a 2020 third-round draft pick.

Landon Slaggert could start next season in Rockford

Landon Slaggert signed his entry-level contract toward the end of last season and played in 16 games at the NHL level. The forward collected his first career goal in that stretch to pair with three assists before entering his first full offseason as a professional. Slaggert began the fall in Rockford and spent most of the season down there. The Notre Dame product played in just 33 games with the Blackhawks this past season, and posted two goals to pair with his four assists.

Slaggert spent most of his NHL ice time this past year as a bottom-six forward, which is likely his ceiling as a pro. He didn’t contribute much in the scoring department, and even had a drought of over 20 games where he did not register a point. With the organization potentially bringing in more free agents to add to the team’s forward depth this summer, Slaggert will be in a tough position to make the opening night roster.

The Chicago Blackhawks need to figure out a role for Landon Slaggert

Slaggert played fine at the AHL level last season, and that might be the vision that the front office has for him down the road. He would serve as good depth in Rockford for the organization, and they would know what to expect from him if he is needed to come up in a pinch.

The 22-year-old is under contract with the Blackhawks through the 2026-27 season, so they still have a couple of years to come to a consensus of what they think he can do for them long term. Slaggert had 10 goals and 15 assists in 39 games for the Rockford IceHogs this past season.

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It has been over a week since the NHL draft lottery took place, and the Chicago Blackhawks are already being thrown in trade rumors across the league. The organization entered the lottery with the second-best odds to land the top pick in the draft this year, but ultimately fell to the third spot after the Islanders won the number one overall selection with a 3.5% chance to do so.

Even though the organization didn’t get the result they wanted out of the lottery, the third overall pick will still be a huge part of their current rebuild. Chicago has made eight first round selections in the last three years, and they will make two more in June to add to their talented crop of young players.

A trade proposal between the Blackhawks and Buffalo Sabres was put out into the hockey world on Monday, and this hypothetical move would impact Chicago’s rebuild massively.

Chicago Blackhawks in wild rumor for Bowen Byram and JJ Peterka

The trade rumor floated out between the Blackhawks and Sabres includes swapping first round picks and multiple players.

• Chicago Blackhawks receive: Bowen Byram, JJ Peterka, 2025 first-round pick (9th overall)
• Buffalo Sabres receive: Lukas Reichel, Nolan Allan, Laurent Brossoit, 2025 first-round pick (3rd overall)

Byram was a first round pick of the Avalanche in 2019 and had a solid first season in Buffalo this past year. The defenseman played in all 82 games for the Sabres and scored seven goals to pair with his 31 assists. Byram had a +11 plus/minus rating, proving that he can be impactful in a prominent role as a two-way blue liner. Adding him to the mix in Chicago would instantly give the Blackhawks one of the best top-four defensemen pairings in the league.

Peterka was a potential trade target for the Blackhawks at the deadline this past season when Buffalo was rumored to be taking calls on the young forward. He had another fantastic season with the Sabres, as he scored 27 goals and collected 41 assists in 77 games. Peterka would elevate the Blackhawks top-six forward group and allow for some of their key veterans to work into middle-six roles next season.

In terms of the players that Chicago would give up in this deal, it is an absolute no-brainer. Reichel could use a change of scenery, and Allan is already getting squeezed out of ice time on the blue line as it is. Brossoit has yet to play a game with the organization, and the Spencer Knight acquisition at the trade deadline doesn’t necessarily give him a path to time in the cage next season.

Why the Chicago Blackhawks likely wouldn’t do this deal

There are two logical reasons why this deal wouldn’t make it across the finish line. One being that Buffalo would be unloading two great talents and not getting much back in return in terms of NHL-ready guys. Depending on how they view Reichel and Allan, Chicago would likely need to offer more, or other young players if they wanted a package of Peterka and Byram.

Another reason would be the swapping of draft picks. While that is the only way this specific package would make any sort of sense for Buffalo, it is uncertain how much general manager Kyle Davidson is willing to move off the third pick. While they would be getting fantastic young talent for the future and right now, the third pick could still be a piece to the puzzle that they might not want to miss out on.

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The Chicago Blackhawks front office swung a couple of significant trades before the deadline this season while keeping an important veteran that most thought they would move off. Ryan Donato remained with the franchise after the deadline after it was reported that Chicago did not receive a higher offer than a third-round draft choice for his services.

Taylor Hall was shipped to Carolina in a three-team deal back in January that involved Mikko Rantanen going to the Hurricanes and Martin Necas to the Avalanche. Chicago got their own third round pick in 2025 as the return for Hall, but it was the next big trade that truly shook up the organization in a major way.

Veteran defenseman and Alternate Captain Seth Jones was dealt to the Florida Panthers less than a week before the deadline. The Blackhawks front office got an eye-popping return for Jones in young netminder Spencer Knight and a future first-round pick. To make matters even better for Chicago, they only have to pay $2.5 million of Jones’ $9.5 million dollar salary moving forward.

Jones had been consistent piece in the Blackhawks’ defensive plans throughout his time in the Windy City, but his play to begin his tenure in Florida shows that Chicago might be better off down the road.

The Chicago Blackhawks have won the Seth Jones deal so far

Jones hasn’t been as productive as the Panthers would have liked him to be so far on either end of the ice. On the defensive side, things have not been pretty for the veteran in five on five play.

The Florida Panthers have been outscored 6-1 with Seth Jones on the ice in 5v5 in his first seven games. He has a 41.61 expected goals percentage.

— Scott Powers (@ByScottPowers) March 17, 2025

The 30-year-old was originally the second right-shot defenseman upon his arrival in Florida, but that quickly changed after Aaron Ekblad was suspended for 20 games  for violating the league’s PED policy. Jones being elevated to the top pairing has certainly hurt the Panthers more than it has helped them, which makes the trade look even stronger for the Blackhawks.

The departure of Jones has allowed for defensemen of the future to come up and get plenty of NHL ice time on a more consistent basis. Wyatt Kaiser has been playing some of his best hockey over the past few weeks and Ethan Del Mastro has been drawing into the lineup every game which is great to see. Most notably, the call-up of last year’s number two overall pick, Artyom Levshunov, was the biggest move made by the front office due to the Jones trade.

All of the Chicago Blackhawks draft capital can be used differently

With this deal, the Blackhawks will have held multiple first round picks in every draft spanning from 2022 through 2026. While it is good to have a stockpile of picks when looking to build a roster for the future, something might have to change with Chicago’s draft capital.

The team’s prospect pool is already crowded as it is, and the front office could use their surplus of picks to change that. Kyle Davidson can finally start pushing his chips forward with these assets by dealing them for established NHL pieces that are on the younger side.

They were a potential suitor for Buffalo’s JJ Peterka at the deadline when it was known that the Sabres could look to ship him out. Chicago has more than enough ammo to pursue Peterka or players similar to him this offseason with their assets if they choose to go down that road.

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Ryan Donato is not the only Chicago Blackhawks veteran forward that has picked up trade interest ahead of the deadline on Friday. The franchise has already made two big moves since the calendar flipped to 2025, with the latest being a trade that sent Seth Jones to the Florida Panthers.

Chicago scored quite the return for Jones by getting their potential goaltender of the future in Spencer Knight along with a future first round draft choice. Taylor Hall was sent to the Carolina Hurricanes as a part of a three-team trade with the Avalanche on January 23. The Blackhawks got their own 2025 third round pick in the deal while retaining some of Rantanen’s salary as a third party broker.

Donato would be the third splash trade that Chicago would make this season, but there are other moves that could go through with before Friday’s deadline that would still make sense as well.

Pat Maroon could be a guy the Chicago Blackhawks trade

Maroon was brought to Chicago on a one-year deal this past summer worth $1.3 million. Known as a hard-hitting veteran, Maroon has provided the Blackhawks with a much needed physical presence that they lacked last season. Despite this year’s team having similar results in the standings to last season’s squad, they are playing a much faster and physical game with guys like Maroon contributing to that shift.

Maroon has the exact same goal and assist totals through 56 games this year than he did a season ago. He currently has four goals and 12 assists to go with his 90 hits this year. He has been a consistent guy on the fourth line and has added to the leadership group in the locker room well.

The 36-year-old has won three Stanley Cups and has been dealt at the deadline plenty of times, including last season when he was moved from the Wild to the Bruins. As a deadline candidate for contending teams, Maroon would bring a physical game with strong leadership skills and a winning mindset no matter where he goes.

Chicago could very well hang onto Maroon, but his expiring contract warrants them listening to any calls they might receive for his services. Realistically, Chicago wouldn’t receive more than a fifth round draft choice for him if they chose to send him away.

The Chicago Blackhawks should field offers for Craig Smith

Smith has been a pleasant surprise from the crop of free agents that general manager Kyle Davidson brought in this past summer. He inked a one-year deal worth $1 million after playing in 75 games for the Dallas Stars a season ago. Smith has lit the lamp nine times this year with the Blackhawks to go along with his seven assists in 40 games. His latest goal came on Wednesday night in the 4-3 overtime loss to the Senators on a sweet set-up from Maroon.

Similar to Maroon, Smith has been on the fourth line this season and they both have tried their hand at mentoring their young line mate, Lukas Reichel. Smith brings a physical side to his game that isn’t as drastic as Maroon, but he can still lay the boom when needed. He would bring back a pick to the Blackhawks that Maroon would in a deal, so Chicago will go through the same process when evaluating his future.

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The Chicago Blackhawks prospect pool has been playing unbelievable at their respective amateur spots this season and the hockey world has taken notice. Insider Scott Wheeler had Chicago’s prospect pool ranked fourth in his last set of rankings, with several players inside his top 100 overall.

Many of the bigger prospects that general manager Kyle Davidson has drafted over the past few summers are beginning to make their way toward Rockford and Chicago. Fans are eager to see the next era of Blackhawks hockey and the even got a taste of it on Monday night when new netminder Spencer Knight put on a show in the team’s 5-1 win over the Kings.

Goal scoring will be at the forefront for Chicago in free agency and the draft once again this summer. While they have great scoring and playmaking ability in the pipeline, franchise cornerstone Connor Bedard needs all the help he can get as soon as possible. Frank Nazar has been an excellent addition to the squad and he by far plays the best 200-foot game on most nights.

The hockey world has been put on watch with a Blackhawks forward prospect in the OHL. Nick Lardis has been playing out of his mind this season for the Brantford Bulldogs and it’s only a matter of time before Blackhawk fans are chanting his name at the United Center.

NHL insider boasts about Chicago Blackhawks’ Nick Lardis

Insider Frank Seravalli joined the Blackhawks Countdown Live pregame show last week and mentioned Lardis and the season that he is having in the OHL right now.

“He’s a guy that you can get excited about if you’re a Hawks fan,” Seravalli said. 

"He's a guy that you get excited about if you're a Hawks fan." @frank_seravalli joined #Blackhawks Countdown Live to talk about Nick Lardis and the special year he's having in the OHL. pic.twitter.com/Mq9ZS6rEHb

— Blackhawks on CHSN (@CHSN_Blackhawks) February 28, 2025

Based on the eye-popping numbers that Lardis has posted this season, it’s hard to not be jumping for joy if you are a Blackhawks fan. In his second season with Brantford, he has 66 goals (yes 66) and 42 assists for a grand total of 108 points in 58 games. Lardis is on pace to finish the campaign with 75 goals and 48 assists (123 points) in 68 games.

What Lardis has been able to do this year is nothing short of incredible. He has been atop of the OHL in scoring along with the potential top pick in the 2025 draft, Michael Misa. There is a real possibility that Chicago will have the chance to select Misa this June, which would be unreal to say the least.

One of the craziest stats from Lardis this season in the OHL is unheard. The 19-year-old has seven hattricks this year and had a 17 game goal stretch at one point. Lardis has 14 game-winning goals this year and already has Brantford’s all-time franchise record in points and goals in a single season.

Nick Lardis could make an impact as soon as next year

Lardis officially signed his three-year entry level contract with the Blackhawks last April. Based on his play this season, he will certainly be around the organization next year. The only question is where Lardis will reside after finishing out this season with the Bulldogs.

While it seems like a no-brainer to plug him straight into the NHL lineup right away, it’s worth noting that his young age shows that there really is no rush to have him there if the front office doesn’t think he is ready for it. Even though Bedard and company could use any type of scoring help they can get, it shouldn’t come at the cost of hurting a players’ development. The time will come where Lardis gets to show off at the United Center on a nightly basis, it’s just a matter of when rather than if.

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The Chicago Blackhawks front office has plenty of assets to work with in trade talks this work with more young players being made available across the league. Moving Seth Jones to the Florida Panthers in a big trade on Saturday was exactly what the team needed to further move the rebuild in the right direction.

Even though the team could look to trade away veterans Ryan Donato and Petr Mrazek this week, the idea of adding to the young core is not off the table either. The Blackhawks have the assets to make an aggressive push at a young star and now is probably the best time for them to do so.

With a plethora of young goal scorers potentially available on the trade market this week, the Blackhawks need to do whatever they can to get Connor Bedard some immediate help before other big name prospects within the organization sign their entry level deals. This could also be a big summer for Chicago with the pending free agent class, but nothing there is a given so a chance to improve the roster at the deadline will be on their minds at all times this week.

Why the Chicago Blackhawks should have interest in JJ Peterka

JJ Peterka was a second round draft choice of the Buffalo Sabres in the 2020 draft. He is a 23-year-old winger from Munich, Germany who signed his entry level contract at the end of the 2021-22 season. NHL insider Frank Seravalli listed Peterka as a new trade candidate this week and that Buffalo is receiving plenty of calls for him.

“Peterka hits the Trade Targets like a wrecking ball, a 23-year-old first line winger with tons of untapped potential still,” Seravalli wrote. “Sources say any team calling Buffalo has been met with resistance on Peterka, but the volume of calls has increased, and the amount of chatter around the league is growing louder. So why is he on the board? The Sabres haven’t done anything to shake up their team yet. He has significant value. He’s a pending RFA who will need a new contract, and oh by the way, he will potentially be an offer sheet target this summer.”

Seravalli’s reasoning for Peterka potentially being on the move makes a ton of sense on Buffalo’s end and it should be something that the Blackhawks get involved in as soon as the Sabres ease up on their “resistance” in trade talks surrounding him. He played in all 82 games for Buffalo a season ago and had 28 goals to pair with his 22 assists.

Peterka has picked up right where he left off a season ago and he already has more helpers in the campaign. Through 56 games, he has 17 goals and 28 assists and is more than on his way to have the most points in a season in his young career. He won’t be cheap for the Blackhawks front office by any means, but Peterka’s potential is worth whatever Buffalo is asking. Another playmaker alongside Bedard is never a bad thing in Chicago’s situation, and having a known commodity on the ice with the young phenom would be huge.

Why landing JJ Peterka will be difficult for the Chicago Blackhawks

Based on his value and production, Peterka will not come easy for Kyle Davidson’s group. There will be plenty of potential suitors knocking on Buffalo’s door to acquire him and it’s hard to say that the Blackhawks will offer Buffalo exactly what they are looking for.

It’s also worth noting that the Sabres may never back off on their resistance to move Peterka. If they really like him as much as they say they do and are willing to match whatever offer is thrown his way this summer, they could very easily hang onto him and roll with the punches.

Peterka would be an incredible get for the Blackhawks and he might be their most realistic young option to pick up on the trade market this week. Unlike other potential deals for Chicago, this one could actually be in their control in terms of what they bring to the table as long as Buffalo is willing to tango.

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The massive Seth Jones trade on Saturday night with the Florida Panthers could be the first of a few major moves that the Chicago Blackhawks make this week. Taylor Hall was the first domino to fall back in January in the three team trade that involved Mikko Rantanen going from the Avalanche to the Hurricanes.

While Ryan Donato and Petr Mrazek could be on the move this week, the idea of Chicago’s front office going out and bringing in a young piece for the future is being floated around. The Blackhawks getting another first round pick in the Jones trade just gives them that much more ammo to make a move for one of the promising young players rumored to be available on the trade market.

Quinton Byfield’s name has been tossed around in mock trade packages to the Blackhawks. Ironically enough, many of those proposed trades involved Rantanen once again. With Carolina unsure if he will re-sign with the team this summer, they could try to move off him while they can still net a return for his services. Chicago would once again be a third team in the mix with a deal like this, and a player like Byfield would be a massive get for the franchise.

Why the Chicago Blackhawks should pursue Quinton Byfield

Byfield was the second overall draft choice of the Los Angeles Kings in the 2020 draft. The center played for the Sudbury Wolves of the OHL and he signed his entry-level deal at the end of the 2020-21 season. Byfield played in 80 games for the Kings a season ago and scored 20 goals while picking up 35 assists. So far this season, he has 11 goals and 23 assists in 58 games.

Chicago should be all over Byfield if they are lucky enough to talk with the Kings about him. While his career numbers don’t totally jump off the page, his potential is extremely high. Byfield is still just 22-years-old and his size is something that the Blackhawks need desperately. He stands in at six-foot-five and weighs 225 pounds, possessing a combination of scoring and size that Chicago does not have a lot of in their prospect pool.

Why Quinton Byfield would be a hard get for the Chicago Blackhawks

In order to land Byfield, the Blackhawks need to bank on things falling their way that are not in their control. Los Angeles has been linked as the most likely spot for Rantanen to go if Carolina decides to move him. However, if a contract is offered his way that he can’t resist, the idea of this three team in transaction would be off altogether.

There is no doubt that the Blackhawks have the resources to bring in a player like Byfield for their future. Having multiple first round picks for the next couple of drafts and a handful of movable prospects in their pool, it wouldn’t be the most improbable thing on Kyle Davidson’s part to swing a deal for Byfield.

Based on who else is available on the trade block right now, Chicago will have a better chance at facilitating a trade for a different young player that could be a huge part of their future. It’s worth noting that Byfield could be their best guy to land if he is made available, so they should be monitoring that situation all week long.

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The Chicago Blackhawks front office shook things up in a big way when they swung a massive trade with the Florida Panthers over the weekend. Seth Jones was shipped out along with a draft pick in exchange for highly touted young goaltender Spencer Knight and a future first-round draft pick.

Chicago should be extremely active this week leading into the March 7 trade deadline. The biggest name left on the roster that is expected to be moved is veteran forward Ryan Donato. The hope is that general manager Kyle Davidson can land a second-round pick or better for Donato depending on his market.

The Jones trade could lead to another veteran being sent away based on Chicago’s return for the defenseman. The team is currently dealing with a goaltender log jam, which is never a bad issue to have by any means. However, based on how their current goalie tandem has played out this season, the primary netminder from a year ago should be traded this week.

The Chicago Blackhawks need to trade Petr Mrazek

Mrazek was a mainstay in the cage for the Blackhawks a season ago when they badly needed a veteran to shoulder the load. He appeared in 56 games while starting in 53 of them in his second season in the Windy City. Mrazek posted a 3.05 GAA and .908 save percentage, his best mark since the 2020-21 campaign.

The 33-year-old earned himself a two-year contract extension during last season that will pay him $4.25 million per season until the end of next year. The deal made sense for both parties at the time, but Mrazek has not necessarily held up his end of the bargain this year. His GAA shot up to a 3.46 ad his save percentage is back under .900 at .890.

With three goalies on the active roster at the moment and having veteran Laurant Brossoit under contract through next year makes it seem like Mrazek will be the odd man out when it’s all said and done. Knight was situated in the starters crease at practice on Monday and Arvid Soderblom was on the opposite side of the ice meaning that Mrazek will not dress for the home tilt against the Kings.

Spencer Knight is in the starter’s crease so good chance he starts tonight vs Kings.

Soderblom is in the other crease and Mrazek is the odd man out. https://t.co/ls8SS5QtwA

— Ben Pope (@BenPopeCST) March 3, 2025

The Blackhawks just need Mrazek out for whatever they can get at this point. There isn’t a spot for him on the team anymore and they could really use the money off their books for the big free agency class to come this summer. If a team looking to make the playoffs sees value in having veteran goaltending depth at a cheap price in the trade market, Chicago could get some calls on Mrazek.

The goaltending future is bright for the Chicago Blackhawks

This situation that Chicago currently has is mainly difficult because of how well Arvid Soderblom has played this season. He was originally supposed to be a placeholder until Brossoit came back from injury, but he has instead carved out a nice role for himself to the point that sending him back to Rockford would be a mistake.

The Blackhawks could have something brewing here with a young goaltending tandem of Soderblom and Knight. What happens with Brossoit is up in the air, but the youth movement for Chicago has extended to the crease and that offers plenty of optimism for the future.

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Depth has not been a problem for the Chicago Blackhawks on the blue line this season between the veterans and youth movement on the current roster. The team has dropped three games in four days off the Four Nations break, with the most recent defeat coming on the road against Utah on Tuesday.

While the intention from general manager Kyle Davidson this offseason was to shore the roster up with as much veteran talent as possible hoping it would lead to success, things haven’t exactly gone according to plan. Chicago currently sits in last place in the Central division with 41 points and a 17-34-7 record.

If the focus hasn’t turned to next season and the general future for this organization, it soon will.

Some of the veterans occupying spots on the squad right now will either be shipped away at the trade deadline or could become roster cuts over the summer. One defenseman in particular who inked a two-year deal this past July should not see the ice in Chicago after this season.

The Chicago Blackhawks need to move off T.J. Brodie

T.J. Brodie’s first season in a Blackhawks sweater has been a tough one to watch. The 34-year-old has logged 52 games and has two goals to pair with his seven assists. Brodie’s brutal plus/minus mark of -20 on the year is the main statistic that has fans scratching their heads as to why he was brought in to begin with.

Brodie was a fourth-round draft pick of the Calgary Flames in 2008 out of Chatham, ON. He played 10 seasons with the Flames before joining the Toronto Maple Leafs ahead of the 2020-21 season. His career-best plus/minus rating in a season came during the 2018-19 campaign with Calgary where he posted a +29 mark.

It can easily be drawn up that a big reason for Brodie’s poor plus/minus rating this year is due to how terrible the Blackhawks have looked. However, one can tell just by watching him play how lost and slow the veteran looks every shift. Many have called out the fact that Brodie always seems to be a step behind his assignment and because of that it leads to multiple defensive breakdowns at a time.

With the young crop of defensemen that will only grow more this summer, Chicago moving off Brodie whenever they can is the only logical decision to make. He is taking away valuable ice time for young players like Ethan Del Mastro, Nolan Allan, and even Kevin Korchinski which is not great especially when the Blackhawks have been a tough watch this season.

Dumping salary won’t be an issue with Brodie’s contract

Brodie’s two-year contract that he signed with Chicago this past summer is worth a total of $7.5 million. He will be owed $3.75 million next year and if the Blackhawks can’t find a trade partner for his deal, they’ll have to eat the money entirely.

Even though the front office is looking to get as much money off the books as possible for a big free agency class this summer, dumping Brodie might be worth it just so more of their young defensemen can develop at the NHL level as soon as possible.

Chicago has enough open cap space entering the offseason that they should still be able to pursue their desired free agents while not having to worry about keeping Brodie around for another year.

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With the NHL trade deadline just over a week away on March 7, time is ticking for the Chicago Blackhawks to try and swing a deal involving veteran defenseman Seth Jones. The 30-year-old has been attempting to work out a deal with the Blackhawks front office but has acknowledged that money will be the biggest factor in getting a trade across the finish line.

If the Blackhawks are willing to eat some money in the Jones contract or can find a third-party broker to make a deal work, they will have a few suitors willing to bring in the former first-round draft choice of the Nashville Predators.

Regardless of who comes calling, Chicago needs to make sure they manage the money of Jones’ deal correctly and they get young assets back who are ready to play at the NHL level sooner rather than later. Based on the early rumored teams that are interested in Jones, Kyle Davidson could eye up a couple of interest forwards as a part of the return in a deal.

Mavrik Bourque should be a guy for the Chicago Blackhawks to watch

The Dallas Stars have been the hottest team in the Jones trade rumors, and a guy like Mavrik Bourque would be a good place to start for Chicago in negotiations. The 23-year-old was the 30th overall pick in the 2020 draft by the Stars and this season marks his first real opportunity in the NHL. Through 51 games, Bourque has eight goals and 10 assists for a Dallas squad that is currently in second place in the Central division.

Bourque was an over-point-per-game player in the AHL last season with the Texas Stars. He had 77 points (26 goals, 51 assists), in 71 games. His time lighting the world on fire as a dynamic scorer for the Shawinigan Cataractes of the QMJHL earned him a spot in the first round of his draft class, and he kept his worth in a big way based on his performance in the AHL last year.

Due to the log jam of forwards on a very strong Stars team, Bourque hasn’t gotten the chance to show off what he is fully capable of. This makes him an obvious trade candidate for a team that will be looking to upgrade at the blue line before making a run at the Stanley Cup. Bourque also provides some value in the face-off circle, which is something the Chicago Blackhawks desperately need.

Mackie Samoskevich needs to be an option for the Chicago

Similar to Bourque, Mackie Samoskevich is getting his first real chance in the NHL this year. In 49 games, the winger has eight goals and nine assists after playing in just seven contests a season ago. Samoskevich was a first-round selection of Florida as the 24th overall pick in 2021.

The 22-year-old attended the University of Michigan and had a fantastic final season in Ann Arbor. In the 2022-23 campaign, he was an over-point-per-game player, having 20 goals and 23 assists (43 points) in 39 games. Even though he made his NHL debut a year ago, Samoskevich made his name known at the AHL level. With the Charlotte Checkers, he had 22 goals and 32 assists (54 points) in 62 games last year.

For Chicago, they have acquired enough draft capital at the last few deadlines. The front office needs to start prioritizing the idea of bringing in established players who are ready for NHL ice time from the jump. Bourque and Samoskevich both fit that mold and would be solid centerpieces in trade packages if the Chicago Blackhawks talk shop with Florida or Dallas.

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More updates continue to come out regarding a potential trade with the Chicago Blackhawks and Seth Jones leading up to the March 7 deadline. The front office has already made one move well before the deadline when they shipped out Taylor Hall to the Hurricanes as a part of a three-team trade on January 23.

The rumors between the Blackhawks and Seth Jones looking to find a trade partner over the last couple of weeks have been very real. Jones is currently in the second season of the seven year extension he signed in Chicago after being traded from Columbus in the 2021 offseason.

For the sake of getting at least some of Jones’ $9.5 million salary per year off of their books, the Blackhawks are hoping to swing a deal with the 30-year-old defensemen. There should be a couple of suitors interested in Jones as the deadline looms, but a new report reveals that there might be less urgency on the Chicago front office than it originally seemed.

NHL insider gives an interesting update on a Seth Jones trade

NHL insider Elliotte Freidman talked all things related to the trade deadline in the latest episode of his podcast, 32 thoughts. He revealed a new detail about the Blackhawks and their willingness to move Jones. It appears that more pressure currently sits on Jones and his camp rather than Chicago’s front office.

“I think the Hawks have indicated that if it doesn’t work, I don’t think they have a problem with keeping him,” Friedman said. “This sounds like it’s more Jones driven, than Blackhawks driven.”

Jones had mentioned repeatedly that he would like to play for a winner and even though he has a lot of years left on his deal, he knows that his best years at the NHL level are numbered. A good amount of contending teams should have interest in Jones, especially if the Blackhawks can eat some of his salary or a third party broker is found.

Chicago’s front office might not have the same sense of urgency that Jones has to get a deal done, but they should at the very least be taking the phone calls they receive as seriously as possible. With the team hoping to get a near NHL ready talent as the center piece of a package for Jones, there could be some very enticing pieces out in the trade market for them to pursue.

The Chicago Blackhawks era with Seth Jones was a massive failure

There is no doubt that the Seth Jones led defensive era in Chicago has been a complete disaster. The former Blue Jacket was a Stan Bowman acquisition right before the 2021 draft and his contract has been the one thing that has held this team back over the last couple of seasons.

Jones’ production has been perfectly fine in his time as a Blackhawk, but he isn’t worth the near $10 million a season that he is set to make for the next half decade. The sooner a deal can be made, the better it will be for both parties. Jones will get the opportunity to play for a contender, and Chicago will have a chance to play more of their young defensemen while getting some salary cap space back for the upcoming offseason.

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There is no secret that the Chicago Blackhawks and veteran defenseman Seth Jones are lookin to mutually part ways at this year’s NHL trade deadline. He signed an an eight-year, $76 million dollar deal with the Blackhawks after being acquired by the team in 2021. Money will be the toughest part of moving the 30-year-old, as he is owed $9.5 million per season over the course of the next five years.

The Blackhawks have already shipped out one of their veterans this season and it’s been nearly a month since they did so. After spending a year and a half with the franchise, Taylor Hall was sent to Carolina as a part of a three team trading involving the Colorado Avalanche on January 23. Chicago received their own third round draft choice in the 2025 draft as a return for the forward, while retaining part of star goal-scorer Mikko Rantanen’s salary for the rest of the season.

There should be multiple suitors for Jones if the Blackhawks can make things work financially. Plenty of signs point to the right-shot defenseman being on his way out of the Windy City, but nothing is for certain until everything gets across the finish line with terms in a deal.

Seth Jones acknowledges the rough stretches he has been a part of

Jones mentioned the rough stretch of the rebuild that the Blackhawks organization has being going through for most of his time in Chicago with the media on Friday.

“I’ve been here the last four years, through probably the darkest times the Blackhawks have seen in a while, Jones said. “I think things are moving up and moving forward, but my timeline might be different than Kyle and Norm’s and the Blackhawks’. It’s nothing against anybody; I’m not holding it against anybody, what they decided to do here. But sometimes it’s not in everyone’s plans.”

The dark times that Jones talks about haven’t been seen in Chicago from a hockey standpoint since the early 2000s. The team has held top picks in the draft over the past couple of seasons, and are in a prime position to land a guaranteed top-five choice in this summer’s draft.

It’s easy to say that the basement is a place where the Blackhawks and their fans have gotten used to over the last handful of years. While the prospect pool that the organization holds gives strong promise toward the future, something needs to be done entering next year to get out of the bottom three spots in the league.

The Chicago Blackhawks front office has urgency in these trade talks

With a big free agency class on the horizon this summer, Kyle Davidson and his team know how important it is to get as much money off the books as possible. The same report from Jones’ comments with the media on Friday also said that the idea of this trade possibility has been “thrown around” for a little while now and they want to “push the needle” toward getting a deal done.

Not only would a Jones trade give Chicago even more cap relief, it would also provide the young defensemen in the organization to get consistent NHL minutes. Ethan Del Mastro has been bouncing back and forth between the AHL and Chicago this season, so he could reap the benefits of a deal being made here. 2024 second overall pick Artyom Levshunov might also get a shot to make his NHL debut near the end of the season as well if the front office can find a good enough trade offer for Jones.

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The Chicago Blackhawks are expected to be quieter at this year’s trade deadline compared to previous seasons, but that doesn’t mean moves won’t be made by the front office in the coming weeks. Despite the fact that the organization should be involved in taking swings at the big free agents this offseason, there are some expiring contracts on their books and overpaid veterans that don’t serve as a big of a purpose with the team as originally hoped.

Taylor Hall was the first trade chip to be dealt out just under a month ago. The veteran forward was sent to the Carolina Hurricanes as part of a three team trade with the Colorado Avalanche where Chicago received their own third round draft choice in return.

The other experienced forward who is a trade target for contending teams at the deadline off the Blackhawks roster is Ryan Donato. A second year Blackhawk, Donato already has the most goals in a single season in his entire career (19) in 53 games so far this season. The front office could be on the fence about moving Donato, but his expiring contract might trump anything else at the end of the day.

Another well-respected veteran in Chicago doesn’t have his contract expiring anytime soon, but his name is continuously swirling in trade rumors. The latest report on the defensemen is that he is working directly with the Blackhawks front office to potentially facilitate a deal prior to the March 7 deadline.

Seth Jones is working with the Chicago Blackhawks in seeking a trade

Seth Jones is still on the hook in Chicago for five more years following this season. He signed an an eight-year, $76 million dollar deal with the Blackhawks after being acquired by the team in 2021. Jones acknowledges that money will be the hardest thing to get a trade over the finish line, as he is owed $9.5 million per year for the next five seasons.

“I would like to give myself a chance to win in my career. I know that the money is not an easy thing to move, and that’s what we’re figuring out,” Jones said. 

A team like the Dallas Stars comes to mind when looking at a potential trade partner for the 30-year-old. They made a move for a veteran right shot defenseman at last years trade deadline in Chris Tanev, and they could look to do the same thing a season later.

The Chicago Blackhawks future benefits from a Seth Jones trade

Moving Jones off the current roster would help Chicago’s defensive core of the future take shape sooner. Artyom Levshunov is currently developing in the AHL, but there is no saying that the number two overall pick of last summer’s draft can’t get a run with the Blackhawks before the season comes to a close.

Other young defensemen like Ethan Del Mastro have been taxied between Rockford and Chicago all season long. These players could have more chances to stick in the NHL as well if Jones is no longer with the organization.

Chicago should be in on Mitch Marner and Mikko Rantanen in free agency this offseason for the sake of giving Connor Bedard so immediate scoring assistance. Either player will cost decent chunk of change in the open market, and getting at least some of Jones’ deal off the books as soon as possible could help the front office swing a solid contract offer for an impact piece this summer.

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Even though the Chicago Blackhawks have one of the best prospect pools in hockey and a bright future in general, they still lack an established star to pair with Connor Bedard on their roster long-term. While Bedard will be the centerpiece for the franchise for the next decade-plus, they can’t bank on any of their prospects to be his running mate before they have logged any NHL ice time.

Bringing in an established star is no easy task, especially with Chicago hanging out in the basement of the league for the past few years. They made a solid run at Jake Guentzel this past offseason in free agency, but the winger elected to sign in Tampa Bay.

If the Blackhawks are serious about bringing in a guy who has shown he can compete at an elite level to compliment their young core, they will likely have to do it through a trade. Unless general manager Kyle Davidson can hit on one of the big free agents this summer, he will have to use his highly ranked prospect pool to his advantage in the trade market.

The organization can swing big on whoever they please due to the plethora of talent that they hold in their pipeline. One guy who would tough to snag but is not completely out of the picture right now is putting the hockey world on notice through his play in the four nations faceoff tournament.

Brady Tkachuk should be on the Chicago Blackhawks radar

The left winger is just 25-years-old and plays a complete 200 foot game and isn’t afraid to get physical. Chicago needs a guy like Tkachuk in their future badly, and he brings a scoring touch along with his physicality. Entering the four nations break, Tkachuk has 21 goals and 23 assists in 56 games. He serves as Ottawa’s captain, which would be huge for the Chicago Blackhawks leadership unit as well.

The former first round draft choice has scored 30 or more goals in each of the last three seasons and is well on his way to doing so this year based on the numbers he has put up so far. The spirit and energy in which Tkachuk plays with is contagious and because of that he would instantly become a fan favorite in the Windy City.

Getting Brady Tkachuk off Ottawa might be a tough sell

Based on all of the praise Tkachuk receives for his play, it would be difficult for the Senators to ship him out. He is their captain after all and he is on a long term deal with the franchise. Following this season, Tkachuk still has three more years on his current contract, which will only make the asking price for his services higher.

Chicago has the assets necessary to make a push for Tkachuk if the Senators ever made him available. His older brother was traded away from Calgary a couple of years ago to play on his home soil with the Florida Panthers, so a deal here isn’t completely out of the question.

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The Chicago Blackhawks have been playing a much better brand of hockey over the last couple of weeks. They have officially climbed their way out of last place in the league for the time being, just leading the Sharks by one point in the standings.

Most of the recent success from Chicago is thanks to strong goaltending and the young pieces on the roster coming through in big ways. Many fans have been frustrated with how long the team’s rebuild is taking, but general manager Kyle Davidson addressed the media on Monday and the current state of how he thinks things are going in this long process.

With most of the Blackhawks prospect pool currently playing amateur hockey, the focus for the young players currently in the NHL is more important than ever. While it is good to have the future of the franchise begin to take over the roster, having a veteran presence in the locker room should not go away. A former member of the Blackhawks dynasty will be available on the open market and it might make sense for the front office to pursue him.

Brandon Saad is coming off a solid season in St. Louis

Saad was in the middle of his fourth season with the Blues before being let go by the organization on Thursday. The 32-year-old had just seven goals and nine assists in 43 games for St. Louis this season, and their front office felt that his play wasn’t worth keeping him around anymore.

The Saadfather finished last year playing all 82 games for the Blues and produced well. He had 26 goals and 16 assists for a total of 42 points after finding the back of the net 19 times in the previous season. Saad is known for playing a strong two-way game with an ability to create chaos at the front of the cage. He isn’t afraid to get his nose dirty and that trait in his game has not gone away with age.

The Chicago Blackhawks could use a veteran like Brandon Saad

Saad won two Stanley Cups in Chicago during the team’s dynasty from 2010-2015. He was a member of the 2013 and 2015 squads and was a part of the NHL all-rookie team in 2013. Saad’s best season as a Blackhawk came the year after their last cup in 2016. He scored 31 goals to go along with 22 assists in the lone all-star season of his career.

Even though there are already a few veterans in the locker room, Saad brings familiarity with the franchise to the table. He could fill the leadership shoes that Taylor Hall held before he was traded away to the Carolina Hurricanes for a 2025 third-round draft pick.

Saad could use a bigger role in Chicago to rebuild his value for a contending team next season, assuming that a deal for him would cover just the rest of this season. One thing that could hold Chicago back from making this move is that it could block younger guys in Rockford from coming up this season.

Landon Slaggert was called up from the AHL to take Hall’s roster spot and he scored a goal in his first game of the campaign against Tampa Bay. If the organization believes there are enough veterans in the locker room and they want the young players to get more NHL ice time, Saad might not make sense for them at this time.

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The Chicago Blackhawks are already looking ahead to the March 7 trade deadline with some options to deal off their current roster. Two early candidates are forwards Ryan Donato and Taylor Hall. Both veteran forwards are on expiring contracts when the season comes to a close, and with the Blackhawks currently sitting tied for last in the entire league in points it makes sense to trade them away for the right price.

There are multiple veterans on the squad that don’t appear to be heading anywhere in March, regardless of the success that they are having this year. It is important for the front office to keep some consistent pieces around Connor Bedard and the rest of Chicago’s young blossoming core. A late rumor has a key member of Chicago’s defensive group in trade talks.

Chicago Blackhawks’ Seth Jones is in trade talks

Despite being on a massive contract with plenty of control, the Spittin Chiclets podcast has reason to believe that Seth Jones is a name being tossed around in trade rumors. Jones has played in 31 games this season and has four goals and 16 assists to go along with his plus/minus rating of -11.

“Teams apparently are calling,” Ryan Whitney said. “Dallas is one of the teams being thrown out there.”

When Whitney asked co-host Paul Bissonnette about his thought regarding Jones on a team like the Stars, he brought up a parallel to a pervious deadline move in the NHL.

“I think that Seth Jones on a team (like the Stars), considering when (Chris) Tanev went to Dallas, everything he provided for them, I’m not saying Jones is him, but I will say from watching games he’s been in this year he looked a lot more fluid than in year’s past,” Bissonnette said.

Tanev was shipped to Dallas from Calgary last season after playing in 56 games with the Flames. The now 35-year-old was exactly what he Stars needed to close out the season. He served as a veteran right-defenseman who didn’t put up gaudy numbers, but stayed consistent and did the job that was asked of him without taking too many mistakes.

Jones could serve a similar purpose on a team like Dallas, but his contract means that he would be more than just a short-term option. The Stars would have to keep Jones around for another five seasons and likely pay a good amount of his $9.5 million salary per year.

The yearly salary will be a big issue for Chicago and getting any deal for Jones over the finish line. The team will have to pick up at least half of his salary per season to make something work, and even then they might not get the return that they are looking for.

A Seth Jones trade would pave the way for a new wave of defensemen

Dealing Jones away would officially open the flood gates for the future defensive core in Chicago. Alex Vlasic is just the tip of the iceberg when to comes to seeing what the franchise has in store on the back end down the road. 2024 first round draft pick Artyom Levshunov is currently developing in Rockford and looks to be a future star in the making based on his build.

Sam Rinzel has been making waves this season at Minnesota, giving Blackhawk fans plenty of reasons to be optimistic about the right side defense for years to come. Along with these three, Nolan Allen is putting together a fine first season in the NHL, and Ethan Del Mastro just called up from Rockford on Thursday to return to the NHL for the first time this season.

If the Blackhawks can find a trade for Jones that makes sense in terms of finances and the return for the 30-year-old, there is no reason to not go through with it if you are general manager Kyle Davidson.

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The Chicago Blackhawks have not been in a position to buy at the trade deadline in quite some time. Based on the decision that the front office made to rebuild once the 2021 season got off to a poor start, that is the position they have been in ever since.

Trading away Patrick Kane in 2022 was a sign to the fanbase that this team would be tough to watch for a little while. When looking at the grand scheme of the things, the Blackhawks haven’t been competitive since 2017. This doesn’t include the bubble series in 2020 when they knocked the Oilers out of the different style of the playoffs that season. Based on how things are trending this year, Chicago should be in a position to sell once again.

Report indicates the Chicago Blackhawks trade deadline plans

Emily Kaplan of ESPN reported what most believed to be true in the fact that Chicago will be sellers at the deadline this year. However, she threw in an extra tidbit of information that should catch the attention of fans.

“The Blackhawks will once again be trade deadline sellers, but GM Kyle Davidson feels less pressure to get 1st round picks in return this year,” Kaplan says. 

When looking at the Blackhawks roster, there aren’t many pieces that Davidson would likely be willing to move that would net a first round draft choice. However, this notion that he doesn’t feel pressure to get a selection of that magnitude can infer what his intentions are at the deadline. While the assets Chicago could move won’t bring back a first rounder, this mindset from Davidson could show that he might not be willing to part with players just because they are on expiring contracts.

For the team currently sitting in dead last place of the entire league, it is usually a given that any players on an expiring deal will be moved. However, the Blackhawks already have a surplus of draft picks moving forward and they have held a boatload of selections over the past few seasons.

While many believe that there can never be too many draft picks and prospects within an organization, there is truly a limit for Chicago on how many young assets they should have. If they move off expiring deals every year in this rebuild just to do so, there won’t be a consistent on-ice product and it won’t allow for the young cornerstones on the roster to fully develop the way that they should.

There are two prime candidates for the Chicago Blackhawks to trade

If Chicago decides to make any moves at the deadline this year, two veteran forwards are obvious candidates for trades. Ryan Donato and Taylor Hall are in the boat of having their deals with the club run out after this season. Chicago signed Donato last summer, and acquired Hall alongside current captain, Nick Foligno in a trade with Boston last year.

Donato is having himself a fine season so far through 42 games. The 28-year-old has 13 goals and 11 assists in his second season as a Blackhawk. He already has one more goal this year than all of last season and has settled in nicely in Chicago’s top six. Donato would make a great addition to a contender and should bring back a third or fourth round draft choice to the Blackhawks.

Hall has been a consistent contributor for the Chicago Blackhawks in his second year with the team. He has eight goals and 14 assists through 43 games after having his last season cut short due to a torn ACL. The former number one overall pick has been around the league and a contender would know exactly what they are getting in him. He is healthy and brings a winning pedigree to the table when given the opportunity to play on a team moving in the right direction.

Neither one of these players would bring a first round pick back to Chicago, but the front office will certainly take calls on them as the trade deadline nears. While keeping veteran forwards like these guys around Connor Bedard is important, Davidson needs to do what is best for the franchise moving forward. He won’t make a trade just to make one, but he also will not pass on a deal that makes sense for the team’s future.

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The 2024-25 season has not gone the way that the Chicago Blackhawks have anticipated thus far. The team got defeated rather handily in the Winter Classic at Wrigley Field against the St. Louis Blue, and GM Kyle Davidson was none too pleased after the game. Things need to change for a franchise that was once at the top of the mountain in the hockey world, and that could start as soon as this summer.

A report shows that the Chicago Blackhawks could pursue a star forward this offseason to help Connor Bedard

The team currently sitting dead last in the NHL with 26 points ahead of Friday night’s game at the United Center against Montreal. It is very apparent that not much has been done to help the goal-scoring efforts of the club this season.

Unfortunately for Connor Bedard, year two in the NHL has not looked the way he or Blackhawks fans were expecting. The 19-year-old sits with 33 points (10 goals, 23 assists) through 38 games, which includes a 12-game drought where he couldn’t find the back of the net. Many believe that this isn’t anything against Bedard, but rather that he hasn’t been set up for success based on what is around him.

In a column from The Athletic, insider Scott Powers throws out the idea that Davidson could look to make a big move this offseason if the opportunity presents itself.

“This could finally be the offseason Davidson makes a splash in free agency,” he writes. “It will all likely depend on who is available, but if someone like Mitch Marner or Mikko Rantanen hits the open market, you would think general manager Kyle Davidson will be all in on trying to sign a premier free agent.“

Based on where the team is in the standings right now, convincing a name like Marner or Rantanen to jump ship from their respective clubs to join the Blackhawks will be a tough task. However, money will always talk and if the front office brings the right offer to the table, nothing is impossible.

Rantanen was a first-round draft choice (10th overall) of the Colorado Avalanche back in 2015. He has 56 points (22 goals, 34 assists) in 39 games this year. The 28-year-old put the hockey world on notice in a big way in the 2022-23 campaign when he lit the lamp 55 times and had 105 points.

Marner went in the same 2015 draft class as Rantanen, just four picks ahead at number four overall to the Toronto Maple Leafs. The winger has 51 points (13 goals, 38 assists) in 39 games this season. There were rumors last year that Marner and the Leafs were not on great terms and that a trade of the Markham, ON native, could be imminent. Those talks subsided and he has remained a part of the current core for a team desperate to win their next Stanley Cup.

Regardless of what happens in free agency or trades, the Chicago Blackhawks should be in a position to draft a promising forward

If the Chicago Blackhawks can’t land a guy like Marner or Rantanen for a handful of reasons, they know that the upcoming draft will present an opportunity to once again change the trajectory of the franchise. As long as the Chicago Blackhawks can secure a top-three selection, they will not have to sweat losing out on one of the big three forwards who are draft-eligible this summer.

James Hagens, Michael Misa, and Porter Martone would all make a world of difference by helping out a franchise cornerstone like Bedard. It is known in hockey that building a winning core for sustained success starts through the draft. Just look at the dynasty that this organization had in the early 2010s as a prime example.

Just like last offseason, changes will be made to this roster ahead of the 2025-26 campaign. For Davidson and the rest of his staff, they are hoping these adjustments pan out much better than they have so far this season.

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The locker room doors at the United Center stayed closed for over 20 minutes as the Chicago Blackhawks had a players-only meeting.

The Chicago Blackhawks would drop their seventh game of the season to the New Jersey Devils 4-2 on Sunday night. Fresh off a big win on Saturday night, the Blackhawks came out hot with Taylor Hall scoring his second goal in as many nights just under two minutes into the first period.

in our Taylor era pic.twitter.com/pr656L4fWk

— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) November 6, 2023

It would be all Devils from there, as Dawson Mercer and Max Willman would each add goals to make the score 2-1 after the first period. After a scoreless second, Devils winger Curtis Lazar would net one with 15:25 left in the third period to take a 3-1 lead. With just under five minutes left in the third, Blackhawks center Ryan Donato would score his second goal of the season to cut the deficit to just one.

Ryan Donato follows up his own rebound and scores his third goal of the season. #Blackhawks pic.twitter.com/l61icLUjbX

— Charlie Roumeliotis (@CRoumeliotis) November 6, 2023

It would not be enough though, as Michael McLeod would cash in on an empty-netter to get the Devils their first win without star player Jack Hughes.

After the game, it is reported that the Chicago Blackhawks conducted a “heart to heart” players-only meeting. This comes as a surprise because the past two games the Blackhawks have played some of their better hockey of the young season. Despite a loss on Sunday, the team played well against one of the hottest teams in the NHL.

#Blackhawks locker room stayed closed for more than 20 minutes after the game.

Seth Jones, Corey Perry and Ryan Donato confirmed there was a “heart to heart” players-only meeting.

— Charlie Roumeliotis (@CRoumeliotis) November 6, 2023

The Devils have won six out of their last eight and boast one of the best power play units in the league. I thought that for the most part the Chicago Blackhawks played hard and kept it close the whole game. They only were out-shot 40-34 and led the game in hits. Even if you take away that one power play goal it’s a tie game going to overtime where the Hawks have all the momentum after the late 3rd period goal.

From what it sounds like, the Chicago Blackhawks player-only meeting was not as intense as the one the Bulls had after their first game. “That’s the brotherhood. You’re not putting anybody down. That’s not what we’re here to do. That wasn’t the message. It’s more of being brothers and being able to talk about it and figure it out as men.” said veteran forward Corey Perry.

The Blackhawks had a somewhat lengthy team meeting after the game, a "heart-to-heart," as Corey Perry put it. Nothing heated, but talking about "accountability" and being reliable, playing like a "brotherhood."

— Mark Lazerus (@MarkLazerus) November 6, 2023

Coach Luke Richardson added how he’s glad that the team can talk amongst themselves. He says it should mean more coming from your teammates: “They hear enough from me before and during the game. If they feel there’s something that needs to be said, it usually goes a longer way when the leadership guys and whoever feels they need to speak up.”

It was players only, which Luke Richardson says was good. "They hear enough from me."

— Mark Lazerus (@MarkLazerus) November 6, 2023

All in all, despite playing well the past couple games, it’s good to know that this team cares about getting the little things right. Doing the little things right is something this team will need to do in order to stay away from the bottom of the tough Central division. The Chicago Blackhawks will have a couple days off before heading to Tampa Bay on Thursday to take on the Lightning.

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Connor Bedard joins elite company with a Blackhawks’ legend

Blackhawks’ young star Connor Bedard has been nothing short of impressive in his first NHL season. Throughout 10 games, the rookie leads the team in goals (5), points (7), points per game (1), shots (30), and is 3rd in time on ice/game (19:24).

BEDARD GETS THE PARTY STARTED EARLY pic.twitter.com/qD5oc5DOqi

— Spittin' Chiclets (@spittinchiclets) October 31, 2023

This all comes after the 18-year old had just one goal and two assists through the first five games. Since then, Bedard has scored a goal in four out of the team’s last five games. His hot streak has also made him one of the best rookies in the league right now (as he should be). Among all first-year players, Bedard ranks 1st in goals scored, T2nd in points, and T1st in shots.

Connor Bedard with his 5th career goal in his 10th career NHL game. That’s an early pace of 41 rookie goals over an 82 game season.

He’s 18 years old.
pic.twitter.com/KAqhIzA3EH

— BlackhawksMuse (@BlackhawksMuse) November 5, 2023

Bedard’s ability to string together constant production has landed him in elite company with a Blackhawks’ legend. After his 5th goal on Saturday night against the Panthers, Bedard joined Jonathan Toews as the only teenager in Blackhawks’ history to score five goals in their first 10 NHL games.

Connor Bedard

Joins Jonathan Toews as the only teenagers in #Blackhawks history to score 5 goals in their first 10 NHL games pic.twitter.com/Tp2njxubp3

— Sportsnet Stats (@SNstats) November 5, 2023

Toews, like Bedard, also struggled in his first five games, but then scored three goals in the next five games. Toews is likely to be a first-ballot hall-of-famer, have his number retired, and maybe even get a statue at the United Center. He was the heart and sole of the team when they won three Stanley Cups, and won the Conn Smythe Trophy in 2010.

While it is obviously very early to start making conclusions about the young career of Connor Bedard, it’s definitely a good sign for him to be in company with Jonathon Toews.

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Blackhawks third-year forward Lukas Reichel is ‘pissed’ about lack of production

In an interview after Thursday afternoon’s practice, Blackhawks’ forward Lukas Reichel voiced his frustrations about his lack of production to start the season.

“Of course I’m pissed, I’m frustrated. I want to score. It’s more fun if you score, of course, that’s why I’m a forward. But I try to stay positive and keep working.”

Although Reichel is the only forward on the team that has not recorded a point this season, it is enlightening that he retains a positive attitude and motivation to keep working. Coach Luke Richardson decided to move Reichel to left-winger instead of center at Thursday’s practice in hopes of loosening him up. The move would then shift Andreas Athanasiou to center and Taylor Raddysh to right wing.

Lukas Reichel says his lack of production at center left him “pissed” and “frustrated”#Blackhawks pic.twitter.com/Llw9khRwBL

— Joe Brand (@Joe_Brand1) November 1, 2023

The 21-year-old out of Germany was the selected with the 17th overall pick in the 2020 has still been looking to get his feet under him in his young career. Last season, Reichel had some fairly decent production in the 23 games that he appeared in, tallying seven goals and eight assists.

Many fans have speculated that moving Reichel to the first line with Connor Bedard would compliment both players nicely. But until then, all we can do is hope that the move to winger loosens up Reichel and gets him in the point column. We will see the Blackhawks back in action at home on Saturday against the Panthers.

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Connor Bedard: The New Hope of Hockey for Chicago Blackhawks

Connor Bedard is considered a prime example of the new generation of hockey.

The 18 year old hockey star signed a three year contract that was announced on the Blackhawks center’s eighteenth birthday. Connor will be newly graduated from high school with a $950,000 salary cap hit. Bedard is the most hyped prospect since Connor McDavid was drafted by the Edmonton Oilers in 2015.

Connor Bedard Has Always Had a Passion for Hockey

As a child, Bedard refused to go on family trips to Disneyland because he wanted to play hockey instead. He even had to be convinced to go to Hawaii with his family with the promise that he could bring his hockey stick and inline skates.

At age seventeen, he is already a two-time gold medal winner at the World Junior Championship including a breakout performance in the 2023 tournament where he led all skaters in goals (9), assists (14) and points (23).

Bedard even broke his wrist while playing a game in 2017 and was unable to play for twelve weeks. He continued to practice, though, and says that it made him much stronger at the top-hand of his stick and improved his overall shot.

What are other players saying about Connor Bedard?

“Well, he’s coming down to this BioSteel camp with some of the best players in the league and I would say he was one of the guys that really stuck out. You never really know, those young kids, how they’re going to do, especially coming in with a bunch of NHL players that have had success, a bunch of guys that have experience, have been in the league a long time and he seemed to me that he was very confident. I think there was one play in camp, he had a 2-on-1 with McDavid and he looked off McDavid and took a shot. We were all kind of laughing on the bench. But yeah, I think the thing with him is he moves so well laterally. Everyone talks about his shot and his ability to shoot from different angles and off a different foot each time but man, the way he moves laterally is what gives him that space to be able to do that, so pretty impressive. I think everyone’s kind of wondering how is he going to do at the next level, how’s he going to be. From what I saw, I think it’s all right there, he’s going to be special.”

– Blackhawks forward Patrick Kane

“His shot is incredible. It comes off his stick so hot. I’ve really never seen anything like it. Obviously [Auston Matthews] rips the puck; I would say that’s the only shot I could really compare it to.”

– Islanders forward Mathew Barzal

“I think the next generation and the young guys coming up are just so talented. You look at Bedard, he’s so skilled and can make plays at high speed and do whatever he wants on the ice. It’s impressive to see.”

– Oilers forward Connor McDavid

“What a talent. He’s got a lot of skill … his shot is unreal. But his work ethic, his compete on pucks has been great to watch.”

– Maple Leafs forward Mitch Marner

“Everyone talks about how good a goal scorer he is, but from watching him for a short period of time, he’s able to control the play, slow down the play when he wants and find the open man. He’s a dynamic goal scorer but from the looks of things, he has such great vision that he finds his teammates and draws guys to him which forces other guys to be open and he makes that play.”

– Blues forward Brayden Schenn

“It’s almost like he’s pressing random buttons on the Xbox controller, coming up with some of these dangles.”

– Team Canada goaltender Thomas Milic

According to the Chicago Sun Times, the “Bedard Effect” will be obvious in the Blackhawks games this season. The preseason starts September 28 against the St. Louis Blues.

This eighteen-year-old 5’10 hockey player from Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada is being banked on to be great before the season even starts. Bedard’s shooting, handling, and dynamic rushes are just a few of his skills. There are moves of Bedard’s that will be mimicked for years to come.

Connor Bedard in full gear with his favourite player, Sidney Crosby.

(: @penguins) pic.twitter.com/PRHVcah8hO

— TSN (@TSN_Sports) September 12, 2023

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The third and fourth-line depth of the Chicago Blackhawks will be observed as a go-to model for toughness, skating accordingly to the game, and most importantly scoring goals at a mid-to-consistent level. How the chemistry unfolds will be determined by the gameplay of the bottom-six forwards, especially the third line, in my opinion, however, the fourth line should pick up their gameplay in a quick manner.

What does the third and fourth-line depth bring to the Chicago Blackhawks?

With the first to third line still being juggled around, it will be interesting to see who will cut what position and how the team performs till the quarter mark of the season. The fourth-line, however, seems to be set in stone with forwards, Nick Foligno and Corey Perry.

Mind you, most of the players on the roster are flexible to play in any area of the game, coming off Stanley Cup performances, and most importantly having that playoff experience under their belt. It will help with the young guns of the team and mature them as players without having to worry about costly mistakes.

This will be a test for the General Manager Kyle Davidson and for the Chicago Blackhawks team in general, because of the work left to do with the line-up. Acquiring certain players, who will make an impact on the team, seems to be the most important aspect of the Blackhawk’s management.

This would secure a run at the 2024 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs race and give the team a dreaded approach toward the league.

How will the third and fourth-line depth adapt to the coaching?

With the coaching ability of Luke Richardson, including his intelligence of the game of hockey, working with the forwards and maintaining a good relationship will not be a problem for the team.

Richardson did mention that he wanted to work on the defensive aspect of the team and after last year’s observation through the stretch, it seems the team may have a new gameplay of sort to work on the offensive front of the game.

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With all the hype surrounding the upcoming 2023/24 season, there will be a star-studded list of 2024 NHL Free Agents next year, unless they are signed before the end of next year’s season. The 2024 NHL Trade Deadline Players the Chicago Blackhawks may acquire are as follows. The steps I would take to secure a steady-playoff-worthy team would indeed complement the players the team currently possesses with the draft capital at the helm of negotiations.

First, if the Chicago Blackhawks intend to contend this upcoming season, the team’s management will have to address its main issue, which would be the goaltending situation. Not to mention tweaking the defense up another notch and providing the offense with quality goal scores that will ensure the team’s star power. In my opinion, this is the main forefront of a checklist that needs to be addressed.

So, Who do I acquire during the 2024 NHL Trade Deadline?

There are a handful of quality player’s hitting the market next year and the first that comes to mind would be goal-tender Connor Hellebuyck, because of his sharp instincts and mesmerizing plays he is able to make following the gameplay. Being able to secure him for the next six to seven years ensures that the team will have reliable goaltending and a strong backbone to the team itself.

With all the prospects and the draft picks the team has it would make sense they pursue the netminder.

Next, I would trade for two centermen with the toughness and wonderful skating ability to score on a nightly basis.

The first centerman that comes to mind would be a top-six forward by the name of Steven Stamkos of the Tampa Bay Lightening, because of his leadership and wonderful arsenal to his game overall.

The second centerman that comes to mind would be a bottom-six forward and I believe Jake Guentzel would be a perfect fit for that role, because of the gameplay he brings to the table and for deep depth purposes.

To address the defensive depth of the Chicago Blackhawks team,  I would indeed go after two players that I will list for deep depth purposes and added grit to the team.

First defensive player that comes to mind is T.J. Brodie of the Toronto Maple Leafs, because of his gameplay in general and defensive efforts he puts into the game. He would be a welcoming edition to defenseman Seth Jones as the top defensive pairing and give the Blackhawks that added level of skill.

Second player, I would choose to go with defenseman Nikita Zadorov of the Calgary Flames, where the Chicago Blackhawks team can do some real damage to the opposing team’s offense. Because of his height, I compare him to a young Zdeno Chara.

How would this team look after the 2024 NHL Trade Deadline?

This is where I would try to build a team around with it’s current roster to solidify a Stanley Cup worthy contender, it will be up to GM Kyle Davidson to make the moves, let’s wait and see. From what the fans have seen this is the time to chase players at the 2024 NHL Trade Deadline.

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Connor Hellebuyck would be a great fit for the Chicago Blackhawks.

So far this offseason, the Chicago Blackhawks management did a good job securing a playoff-worthy team, GM Kyle Davidson was not shy about acquiring key pieces that would help build around forward Connor Bedard. But, what if, the GM is not finished at this point or for the remainder of the summer? The Chicago Blackhawks still have a void to fill and that is in the crease with two aging goaltenders, and that’s where goaltender Connor Hellebuyck comes into play.

Hellebuyck will be a free agent next summer, but as an RFA, he has expressed to his team that he does not plan to re-sign with the Winnipeg Jets and this is where GM Kyle Davidson can make a move to secure his goaltending woes with a trade for the star netminder.

Who is Connor Hellebuyck?

Connor Hellebuyck is an all-star goaltender and also a Vezina trophy winner with approximately ten years in the NHL under his belt. He is an incredibly talented goaltender that had brought life to the Winnipeg Jets team, but now is looking to move on to a contending team that will help him raise the Stanley Cup.

This would also be a good fit for the Chicago Blackhawks, because of the win-now type mentality the team is going with at this point, not to mention the implications it would have down the stretch. Including going the distance in the post-season.

The Chicago Blackhawks are a good fit.

The Chicago Blackhawks are a rebuilding team, however, with a set of all-star players, who also possess significant playoff experience, Hellebuyck would be the best addition to the team and a nice surprise during the upcoming season.

With all the rumors going around the league, the Blackhawks will have to make a splash to compete in the post-season next year and have the right package to acquire the star netminder who will lead the team.

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The Chicago Blackhawks are one day away from taking whoever they want with the first overall pick in the 2023 NHL Draft. The general consensus in the NHL is the Blackhawks go with the highly coveted Canadian center, Connor Bedard. However, anything is possible until general manager Kyle Davidson makes the pick Wednesday night.

The Chicago Blackhawks are open to anything

Davidson said in Tuesday’s pre-draft press conference the Blackhawks were open to trading anything Wednesday. And while their 19th pick is the one most likely to be traded, you can’t rule out the possibility Bedard isn’t in Chicago Thursday morning.

Joe Yerdon with Bleacher Report wrote about dream trade scenarios for the Blackhawks with the number one pick. Yerdon thinks the Blackhawks receiving a couple of first-round picks and a couple of young players from the Montréal Canadiens could entice Davidson to think about trading the Bedard pick. Maybe if only for a second:

“The Montréal Canadiens had a lot of lottery fortune last year when they won the No. 1 pick and took Juraj Slafkovsky. Missing out on the chance to draft Connor Bedard and ensuring the ability to roar up the standings in the Eastern Conference hurts. What the Canadiens are building looks solid, particularly with young guys like Nick Suzuki, Cole Caufield, Kirby Dach and Kaiden Guhle along with Slafkovsky and Filip Mesar in the pipeline.

That’s a lot of strong young talent which is just what it would take to lure Chicago into thinking about trading the No. 1 pick. Montréal also has two first-round picks this year with the fifth pick and either pick 31 or 32, depending on whether or not the Florida Panthers win the Stanley Cup. Giving Chicago that list of prospects and saying they can pick any three of them and including both firsts this year makes for a fun “would you or wouldn’t you” argument.

If someone is going to make a run at the first pick, any player has to be on the table and available, no matter how much you might love them, their potential or both.

Caufield being from Wisconsin would make him an automatic hometown-region guy in Chicago and given how he can fill up the net, an instant favorite too. Suzuki is the Habs captain and a strong scorer and leader while Dach used to be with Chicago and became an excellent player with Montréal this season.

The Canadiens would get the best player they’ve had since Patrick Roy and best forward since…the 1970s? Chicago would get a loaded crew of young forwards and still have a top-5 pick in this draft.”

Trade Proposal for rights to Connor Bedard

Chicago Blackhawks receive:

• Nick Suzuki
• Cole Caufield
• Kirby Dach
• 5th overall pick
• 31st overall pick

Montréal Canadiens receive:

• 1st overall pick (Connor Bedard)

That would be one crazy story for Bedard and Canada. Bedard would get to stay in his home country and play in the NHL.

The Blackhawks shouldn’t take this trade. Not that the Canadiens would offer most of their future for one player. The Blackhawks should be better positioned to help a generational talent over the next few years than to risk taking on a few prospects with lower ceilings.

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Follow me on Twitter at @JordanSig, and follow us @ChiCitySports23. You can also reach out to Jordan Sigler via email at jordanmsigler@gmail.com. To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest in ALL of Chicago sports, click here! Chicago Bears, Chicago Bulls, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Chicago Blackhawks.

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A look at the 2023 NHL Draft for the Chicago Blackhawks and the moves they might be willing to make.

With the 2023 NHL Draft Selection rapidly approaching for the Chicago Blackhawks management has eleven draft picks that will be utilized or traded away in packages regarding building a solid team for the upcoming season, not to mention building a solid foundation around the number one pick they have, in which they will be selecting forward Connor Bedard.

With the team’s other ten picks, what route will the team take to select players to add to their team and farm system? Including what trades will be made to acquire a steady team that could squeak into the playoffs next year.

While GM Kyle Davidson has made a splash during the beginning of the offseason, acquiring forward Taylor Hall and forward Nick Foligno to their lineup, which is a great mix for the team itself with a unique twist and maybe a temporary fix for now.

The route that is possible for the team to take is to build on their top and bottom six forward lineup even more by adding young veteran pieces that would complement players such as Andrea Athanasiou, and rebuild the defensive aspect of the team.

With plenty of talent in the defensive section, however, the team may just focus on forwards for now, and take a look at the goaltending situation that will be the defining mark of the draft.

With Peter Mrazek and Alex Stalock in net for next season, which could change this upcoming draft day, or be tweaked a bit during the offseason, it will be interesting to see if GM Kyle Davidson makes another splash in that regard.

There are several goaltenders available this year and all have excellent ratings to their resume, including drafting a top-notch prospect in the draft during the selection is the expectation at the moment.

The rebuild is coming along well and how the Chicago Blackhawks management will make their moves this offseason will be the most interesting part of the summer.

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The biggest decision of Chicago Blackhawks general manager Kyle Davidson’s career might be whether or not to trade in the first round. The Blackhawks have one of their two first-round draft picks in the bag. The Blackhawks are all but guaranteed to take Connor Bedard with their number one pick in the draft. The Blackhawks have another tough decision with their second pick, which will come at 19.

Davidson will face pressure once Bedard is a member of the Blackhawks organization. He will have to rebuild the Blackhawks roster around Bedard fairly quickly. Davidson must hit on the next pick after Bedard.

There has been talk the Blackhawks could be aggressive in the first round by trying to trade up. However, that will come at the cost of their draft capital. They have two first-round picks in the next two drafts, but giving up that capital could cost key players in a dynasty with Bedard.

The Chicago Blackhawks take Colby Barlow in new mock draft

The Athletic came out with a new mock draft this week. Scott Powers predicts the Blackhawks attempt to move up, but they fail to make a convincing offer. The Blackhawks take LW Colby Barlow with the 19th pick:

“After being turned down by a few teams in an attempt to move up, the Blackhawks draft Barlow, a high-scoring winger. With his shot and size, he should be someone that nicely complements Connor Bedard, Frank Nazar and Lukas Reicel in a top-six role for the Blachkawks in the future.“

Mark Scheig with The Hockey Writers wrote a draft profile on Barlow. Scheig thinks Barlow would prove to an NHL team with versatility:

“Barlow projects as a top-six winger who can play in all situations whether his team needs a goal or needs to prevent a goal. He plays the kind of game that can drag teammates into the fight. Assuming continued development, 30+ goals in a season is not out of the question based on his finishing ability alone.”

Barlow could be a solid player for the Blackhawks to take on draft night. But he doesn’t seem to have the same forward power as Matthew Wood or Gabe Perreault. However, if the Blackhawks want one of those types of scorers, they might have to be willing to trade up to get them.

Here are highlights of Coby Barlow courtesy of TC Hockey:

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The Chicago Blackhawks have the best seat at the table ahead of the 2023 NHL Draft. One NHL writer has a trade in mind so the Blackhawks could steal the league’s best payer in a trade with the Edmonton Oilers this offseason.

Via lottery luck, the Blackhawks are in a position to land Connor Bedard. Most hockey analysts consider Bedard to be his generation’s best player. The Blackhawks have an easy choice going into June’s draft–even though Bedard has stressed multiple times he’s not assured of being drafted by Chicago at one. However, Bedard won’t be a magic fix for the Blackhawks in one season.

Would the Edmonton Oilers give the Chicago Blackhawks a Connor?

Joe Yerdon with Bleacher Report recently wrote about “dream scenarios” for NHL teams to trade with the Blackhawks for the number one pick. Yerdon doesn’t think the odds are high that the Blackhawks would consider trading the chance to draft Bedard but thinks this “what if” scenario with the Oilers could cause a pause in the Blackhawks’ thought process before the draft. Yerdon wrote the Oilers could try and swap the best player in the league, Connor McDavid, for the best prospect, Bedard:

“Who’s the best NHL player in the world right now? It’s Connor McDavid and, like Connor Bedard, he’s been in this position before as the young phenom that will change a franchise forever.

When the Oilers won the lottery in 2015 to take McDavid, the common thought was Edmonton’s return to glory was imminent and the Stanley Cups they won throughout the 80s and into 1990 would be back in greater numbers with No. 97 in charge.

Now that we’re eight years past McDavid’s draft and the Oilers haven’t been much closer a Stanley Cup since they’ve added him (under no fault of his own, mind you), a change of scenery would be the best thing to happen.

The Oilers could continue their never-ending pursuit of a Cup with yet another player out of the Wayne Gretzky mold of generational talent and Chicago would get the absolute best player in the game right now while he’s in the prime of his career. It’s the known quantity versus what’s in the mystery box.

The mystery box could be anything, it could even be the next McDavid, but having McDavid means knowing exactly what you’re getting and what Chicago would be getting is the best scorer in the league by leaps and bounds. Bedard could become that, but when the bar is set at playing as well or better than McDavid, just having McDavid would be great.

Edmonton could loosen their salary-cap situation and get a player that may well be the next McDavid. They’d also be able to do with Bedard what they haven’t done with McDavid: give him a deeper supporting cast to win a Cup or two.”

Proposed Trade

The Chicago Blackhawks receive:

• Connor McDavid
• 2024 1st-round pick

The Edmonton Oilers receive:

• 2023 number one overall pick (Connor Bedard)

Connor McDavid is a sure thing, but Bedard could be better

McDavid is a six-time All-Star. He’s been a major part of the Oilers making the playoffs the last three seasons. However, the Oilers still haven’t been able to get back to the Stanley Cup Finals with McDavid. (Though they battled hard, losing in a 4-2 conference semi-finals series to the eventual Western Conference champion Las Vegas Knights in this year’s playoffs.)

Of course the Oilers want to reset their window with Bedard. But this doesn’t seem like it’s in the best interest of the Blackhawks. Sure, Bedard might be a bust, and we know McDavid is great. However, the Blackhawks must reset their roster and build around a young talent like Bedard. The Blackhawks don’t need to spend money on McDavid when they can get sellout crowds from a 17-year-old.

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The Chicago Blackhawks have some big decisions to make in the 2023 NHL Draft. The Blackhawks received the number one pick in this year’s draft in the lottery and are expected to use it to take Connor Bedard. However, nothing is certain yet, and Bedard’s height could play a major role in what the Blackhawks do in the draft. Bedard’s measurement at the NHL Combine Saturday was a quarter inch less than Bedard joked he hoped it would be.

Connor Bedard’s height complicates the Chicago Blackhawks’ plans

A new mock draft has the Blackhawks taking a right wing in the first round. The Blackhawks currently have two first-round picks in June. In a recent mock draft from The Athletic, the Blackhawks take Bedard with the first pick, as expected. However, Corey Pronman thinks they pull a surprise with the 19th overall pick due in part to Bedard’s size and draft right wing Matthew Wood:

“I debated [taking Brayden] Yager here but I’m not sure Chicago can have three 5-foot-10 or 5-foot-11 centers between him Bedard and Frank Nazar. Wood is my best talent on board, anyways, and could form a connection with Bedard on a power play one day.”

Yager would be a great choice, but Wood would make great sense for Chicago. Wood played hockey and was a star for UConn in college. He could be an exciting player to pair with Bedard in the future. If they take Bedard and Wood, the Blackhawks’ offense should be one of the most exciting units to watch in the NHL in the coming years.

Here are highlights of Wood at UConn courtesy of NHL Draft Pros:

For More Chicago Sports:

Follow me on Twitter at @JordanSig, and follow us @ChiCitySports23. You can also reach out to Jordan Sigler via email at jordanmsigler@gmail.com. To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest in ALL of Chicago sports, click here! Chicago Bears, Chicago Bulls, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Chicago Blackhawks.

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The Chicago Blackhawks are overwhelming favorites to daft Connor Bedard with the number one overall gift they received in the draft lottery. However, general manager Kyle Davidson is sure to field offers for the pick from opportunistic rivals. One trade proposal with the Nashville Predators could see the Blackhawks land a true haul of picks.

The Blackhawks have every right to scope out potential trade offers for the number one pick this month. Chicago fans saw the Chicago Bears trade away the first pick in this year’s draft. Bedard himself even said he’s not assured of being a Blackhawk after the draft.

Does Connor Bedard end up with the Nashville Predators?

Joe Yerdon with Bleacher Report wrote about “dream scenarios” for the Blackhawks this offseason. Yerdon suggested the Blackhawks could find a trade partner for the number one pick with the Nashville Predators. The Predators have 13 picks in this year’s class, so they have a lot to offer Davidson:

“How many draft picks in one draft would it take to land the first one overall? The Nashville Predators should give it a shot this year to find out.

The Predators have 13 picks in the 2023 draft and Nashville’s new GM Barry Trotz made it a point at the press conference introducing new coach Andrew Brunette that he wants the Predators to score goals and keep up with the rest of the NHL. What better way to do that than trading all 13 picks for Chicago’s No. 1 pick to take Connor Bedard?

Nashville has two picks in the first (15 and 24), second (46 and 47) and fifth rounds (143, 147) and three picks in the third (68, 79, 83) and fourth rounds (111, 115, 121) as well as a sixth-round pick (175). That’s seven top-100 picks of the 13 they have. That’s the kind of quantity (and quality) a team has for both building up a system and for making trades.

If someone is going to go full Mike Ditka-in-New Orleans and give away an entire draft full of picks for one player Trotz probably isn’t the guy that’s going to do it. But not everyone has 13 picks in their pocket for this draft (Arizona and San Jose each have 12 for what it’s worth). The Predators are lacking in elite prospects to sweeten any kind of offer but that’s why you give up an entire draft.

Making that kind of move would give Chicago 24 picks in the 2023 draft which would also be incredible in itself and more than enough to wheel and deal to their hearts content throughout the two days of the draft.”

Here’s the proposed trade.

The Chicago Blackhawks receive:

• 13 2023 NHL Draft picks from the Predators

The Nashville Predators receive:

• 2023 number 1 overall pick (Connor Bedard)

The Chicago Blackhawks would have a whole new team

The Blackhawks would be able to mass an army of potential talent this year if they took this offer. The trade isn’t likely. As Yerdon wrote, this would be a pretty ballsy move for two general managers to make, and they don’t think the Blackhawks will trade the chance to draft Bedard away.

However, if the Predators offer all 13 picks, the Blackhawks might have to consider this trade. Yerdon made the point earlier in the article that Connor McDavid, the best player in the sport, hasn’t brought the Edmonton Oilers a Stanley Cup. And the Blackhawks can’t be sure that Bedard would ever reach McDavid’s caliber. Having several elite players from this year’s draft could go a long way to fixing the Blackhawks for the long term by filling multiple gaps in the roster.

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