How the Jason Dickinson Trade Impacts the Blackhawks

Foligno is also making $4.5 million on a deal that expires after this season. That dollar number is going to be tough for contenders to fit into their cap structures without retention. With retention not being an option anymore, I think we see Foligno play out the season in Chicago.

The other Blackhawk I thought about was Ilya Mikheyev. According to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, Chicago tried to sign Mikheyev, but his name is out on the market.

Although Mikheyev is more worth his $4.75 million cap hit, it is still going to be difficult to move that salary at the deadline with no retention.

Due to the fact that they don’t have any more retention slots, I think this may be the last deal we see Davidson make before Friday’s deadline.

More Opportunities For The Youth

With Dickinson now off the roster, it opens up a spot for some of the younger Blackhawks to have a more permanent role on the team.

After the trade, Oliver Moore is the projected third-line center. The 21-year-old has played 49 games with the Blackhawks this season, posting five goals and 12 assists for 17 points. Hopefully, with a more open role being available, he can find a streak of good production to close out the season.

This will also open up some spots on special-teams units. Dickinson was a huge part of the penalty kill, and Foligno is now listed on the first unit with Mikheyev. While those are two veterans, the second unit is Ryan Green and Landon Slaggert.

With those two guys having more opportunities to see different situations on the ice, I don’t see how that is anything but a positive for their development.

New Linemate For Bedard?

I’ve noticed people getting on Andre Burakovsky for his play, which is fair. He has scored just one goal in his last 18 games. I think it would be beneficial to move Burakovsky off the top line and give Mangiapane a run with Connor Bedard.

Mangiapane, to me, is a guy the team should be trying to put in the best positions possible for the rest of the season. He has really struggled in Edmonton in the first year of a two-year $3.6 million contract.

I would be trying my best to get him back to the form he found with the Calgary Flames, where he hovered around 20 goals and even scored 35 in one season. If the Blackhawks can get him close to that form again, I think they could flip him for more assets at the next deadline, which should be the goal. Playing him on the top line would not only put Mangiapane in a position to succeed, but perhaps it would take Burakovsky out of the spotlight a little bit.

Incredible Asset Management From Davidson

Davidson has had a lot of criticism directed at him, and I think a lot of it is valid. This rebuild hasn’t been smooth, but this deadline has been very good so far. The Murphy deal was fair value for him, especially since they retained some of his contract, and this Dickinson deal is fantastic.

I understand Bowman is paying for the salary retention, Dach, who is a younger player, and unloading Mangiapane, but I think it is very expensive for what they’re getting.

Dickinson was an important part of this team and played big roles on and off the ice. However, if you can get a first-round pick out of a third-line center and a younger player who wasn’t one of the bigger pieces of your team, you’ve done well.

This team has so much youth on the roster, plenty of good prospects in the system and five first-round picks in the next three seasons. I’m hoping Davidson moves some of these for help to speed this rebuild process up.