A trade completed by the Chicago Blackhawks will now haunt them: a fan favorite is gone

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Jim
November 10, 2024 (5:59 PM)

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The Chicago Blackhawks have a rich history. Six Stanley Cups, three in six years last decade. Multiple Hockey Hall of Famers including Jeremy Roenick this year. Legends, jersey's and championship banners everywhere you look in the United Center. However, there's one part of their history that isn't so nice when it comes to on ice talent.

The Blackhawks have an unfortunate history of trading away players way too early. Whether it's trading them and refusing to pay them, the player not sparking as quickly as wanted or advertised, or just pure impatience, Chicago does it more times than you think.

The first one comes from the Stan Bowman campaign. And it's none other than Artemi Panarin. Panarin was a young forward who had a relationship with Patrick Kane, and the two of them were feeding each other and were a dynamic duo. During his first full year up in the NHL, he had 30 goals and 47 assists, tallying up to 77 points in 80 games, winning the Calder. In his second year with the Blackhawks, he had 74 points in 82 games, his first fully-played season. Panarin was a rising star. But then, on June 23, 2017, during the NHL Draft, he was traded to the Columbus Blue Jackets and the Hawks got Brandon Saad back. Apparently, Bowman wasn't happy with how the playoffs were going following two first round exits, so he got Saad, who helped bring two cups to the Windy City. Fans were upset about it at the time, and looking at how things panned out, it looks even worse.

Bowman didn't learn, though, as this one happened with a defenseman. Defensemen normally take more time to develop than forwards because it's way more complicated. But, Stan didn't hold back when it came to Henri Jokiharju. Jokiharju was a late first round pick in 2017. Henri played right after he was drafted and at the age of 19 in the 2018-19 season he had 12 points in 38 games with a -7. Bowman wasn't impressed, obviously, and traded him right after his first year to the Buffalo Sabres for Alex Nylander, who was a complete bust. Jokiharju, along with the rest of the Sabres struggled his first four years. However, last year, Henri had a breakout year and had 20 points in 74 games with a +14. This year, he's on track for another good year, as he has three points in 12 games with a +6.

These next two come from the new leadership with Kyle Davidson and his team. Back in 2022, the Blackhawks traded both Brandon Hagel and Alex DeBrincat. Hagel was traded at the age of 22 and DeBrincat was traded at the age of 23. Hagel was shipped off to the Tampa Bay Lightning at the 2022 trade deadline for two first round picks and other assets. DeBrincat was traded to the Ottawa Senators during the 2022 NHL Draft and in return the Blackhawks got a first round pick for the same night.

In Hagel's last season with the Hawks, he put up 21 goals and 37 points in 55 games before being sent to Tampa Bay, and last season with the Lightning, he had 75 points in 82 games. Right now, Brandon has 15 points in 14 games.

In DeBrincat's last season in Chicago, he had 41 goals and 37 assists, tallying up to 78 points in 82 games. In his lone year with the Senators, he dropped off a bit, putting up 66 points. Now, he's in Detroit, and reunited with Patrick Kane. DeBrincat 67 points in 82 games last season, and this year he has six goals and six assists, adding up to 12 points in 14 games.

Sure, these trades were to help tank and get Connor Bedard and build a new prospect pool, and mainly get the stink of Bowman's campaign out. But they still traded young, quality pieces.

So, how is this a problem? Well, the Hawks have a lot of undeveloped pieces and have one of the best prospect pools in the NHL. If the Blackhawks have a history of doing this, especially the current leadership, this could rear its ugly head and end up biting the Blackhawks. One thing they need is patience, but in past history, they've shown that they don't have that, and you should be worried about that.