Although we’re just two months into the season, the trade deadline is just over a month away. Where does each team stand, and what moves should they be looking to make? We continue our look around the league with the Chicago Blackhawks.
No one expected anything for the Blackhawks this season. They were going into the season with an unproven goaltending tandem, and their two most dynamic centers have been unavailable the whole season. But with an outstanding rookie in net and a Hart Trophy-level performance from Patrick Kane, they’re right in the thick of the playoff race in the Central Division.
Record
13-9-5, 4th in Central Division
Deadline status
Opportunistic buyer
Deadline cap space
No base cap room, $22.09 million in full-season space using LTIR, 2/3 retention slots used, 48/50 contracts used per CapFriendly.
(The LTIR room that Chicago is using this season includes Jonathan Toews’ $10.5 million cap hit. If Toews is going to come back this season, it would drastically reduce the amount of cap with which the Blackhawks have to work at the deadline.)
Upcoming Draft Picks
2021: CHI 1st, CHI 2nd, CHI 4th, CHI 5th, CHI 6th, CHI 7th
2022: CHI 1st, CHi 2nd, CHI 3rd, CHI 4th, CHI 5th, CHI 6th, CHI 7th
Trade chips
If the Blackhawks lose any ground in the next couple of weeks, their feel-good start won’t matter much in the eyes of GM Stan Bowman. Chicago was starting a mini rebuild, and that shouldn’t be abandoned because of a strong two dozen games. Still, what the Blackhawks have done this season without Toews or top prospect Kirby Dach is encouraging and will make them have to consider any names that hit the market with some term attached.
One Chicago player who has been in the rumor mill is Dylan Strome, who has just one more year on his contract before restricted free agency. When Toews and Dach are healthy, Strome isn’t a great fit for the third line, and he has been passed over by lesser-known names this season. With just eight points in 19 games and a recent concussion on his medical chart, Strome certainly wouldn’t be at peak value. Still, if there is a deal to be had, he is a piece the Blackhawks could deal.
Carl Soderberg also sticks out as a player who has been a nice surprise this season but won’t be involved the next time Chicago is really contending. The 35-year-old forward has 11 points in 22 appearances and could be a nice depth addition for a relatively low cost. Soderberg carries just a $1 million cap hit and is an easy sell if someone such as Dach (who has resumed skating recently) comes back into the lineup.
Mattias Janmark could basically have the same thing written about him, although the 28-year-old has been good enough to perhaps deserve another go-round with Chicago next year. He’ll be an unrestricted free agent this summer and carries a $2.25 million cap hit but has nine goals and 15 points in 27 games.
Others to Watch For: D Calvin de Haan ($4.55 million UFA 2022)
Team needs
1) Depth on the wing – It doesn’t seem like it even needs to be a prospect that the Blackhawks would have to target this season, considering the little boost they have had in performance. Adding a reclamation project or middle-six option with some team control could be a useful piece for the end of this season and next—as long as it comes cheaply (both in salary and assets).
2) NHL-ready prospects – With Kane still providing MVP-level play, there’s no way Chicago will strip it down to the bolts. A draft pick is nice, but a player ready to make an impact next season would be even nicer. If they do something like move Strome, it won’t likely be for just picks.
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