Chicago Blackhawks' GM Kyle Davidson Completing Move Involving Former Hart Trophy Winner
Photo credit: NHL Trade Talk
The Chicago Blackhawks could be sellers at this year's trade deadline as they have six players who could be moved. All six players are set to be UFAs at the end of the season, depending on whether Kyle Davidson offers them a contract, as the rebuild moves forward.
Teams are working on building lists of players who could be trade targets and with the Blackhawks' record of 8-13-2 it's not a certainty they're playoff-bound.
Of the six, one of those players who could draw the most interest is Taylor Hall. While struggled up until his game against the Minnesota Wild, who scored his first hat-trick since December 5th, 2013.
Could GM Kyle Davidson be busy working the phones up until March in order to move players which could be Taylor Hall, and include Pat Maroon, Craig Smith, Alec Martinez, and Andreas Athanasiou?
The 32-year-old is hoping to stick with the Chicago Blackhawks past this season and had previously stated, «I'd love to stay and be part of this. I've moved around quite a bit, maybe more than I would've liked or planned at the start of my career."
While Hall wants to stay in Chicago, nothing is given in the NHL.
Hall has a cap hit of $6 Million and could fetch major interest if the Blackhawks decide to retain part of his salary.
Kyle Davidson would be able to facilitate the trade, with two retention spots available, and could help move the contract off of the books.
He did, however, go pointless Friday night in a 3-2 loss to the Minnesota Wild. Even if he steps up his offensive game, teams interested may insist on having the Hawks eat half of his contract.
The only major thing that could get in the way of moving Hall is the Calgary native's ten-team, no-trade clause attached to the deal.
Chicago is Hall's sixth team, playing for the Edmonton Oilers (6 seasons), New Jersey Devils (4 seasons), Arizona Coyotes (1 season), Buffalo Sabres (1 season), Boston Bruins (3 seasons), and Chicago (2 seasons).
Hall may have to consider a move into the bottom six whether or not he stays in Chicago as the player is past his prime.
With injuries factoring into the mix, and a lack of power-play responsibilities he'll have to perform duties depth players usually.
Blocking shots, shooting, and hitting are just small ways of contributing to the big picture of games in the NHL.
While he does offer a leadership capability in any locker room he will land, he considers Chicago home.
Hall has played 22 games for the Blackhawks this season and scored 5 goals and 9 points.
Previously on HawksInsider
| POLL | ||
DECEMBRE 1 | 121 ANSWERS Chicago Blackhawks' GM Kyle Davidson Completing Move Involving Former Hart Trophy Winner If you were GM Kyle Davidson of the Chicago Blackhawks would you trade winger Taylor Hall? | ||
| Yes | 61 | 50.4 % |
| No | 60 | 49.6 % |
| List of polls | ||
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