A busy 24 hours could be ahead for the Blackhawks

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Cameron
July 6, 2022 (8:16 PM)

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With the 2022 NHL draft only 24 hours, the Blackhawks could be looking to make some moves. Multiple Blackhawks players have been surrounded by trade talks and rumors. With Kyle Davidson wanting to acquire a first round pick, his time to act is now. There are a couple players that could allow him to bring in a first round pick.

Alex Debrincat: Alex Debrincat has been the player most talked about when it comes to a potential trade. Blackhawks GM has turned down multiple offers. Those offers included a first round pick in this draft (top 10) along with an additional first round pick and a prospect. However, that's not enough in the eyes of Davidson. Davidson wants a team to take a loss, but is there a GM out there that's willing to risk the future of the organization to bring in an elite scorer like Debrincat? Only time will tell, but the clock is ticking. If I had to guess, if Debrincat does not get traded before the draft, he will start the season in Chicago and potentially be moved at the deadline.

Kirby Dach: Kirby Dach has had trade rumors around him. Not nearly as many as the Cat, but there have been some. Dach was taken third overall in the 2019 NHL draft. He had his bright spots, especially during the play in series against the oilers in 2020. Following that, in 2021 he went to play in world juniors and be the captain of team Canada. Another bright spot for the young Blackhawk - until he broke his wrist and needed surgery and was sidelined for months. Since then, he's had a hard time finding his game. The Blackhawks might be running out of patience with Dach so they might be willing to move him in order to acquire some draft capital. Sadly, I don't think he would be valued enough to receive a first round in exchange. If it was up to me, I'd have Dach stick around for another season. After all, he is only 21.

Dylan Strome: At this point, Strome is done as a Blackhawk. In one week Strome will become a RFA, and it sounds like the Blackhawks have no plans to pay him. Losing Strome will be a painful loss as he was that player on the ice that was always smiling and was a bright spot as the Blackhawks performed below expectations. However, the Blackhawks could try to trade his RFA rights to a team interested so that they get first call on signing Strome. I doubt it would be a first round coming in return of Strome's signing rights, but perhaps a mid round pick. If the Blackhawks have zero intentions of resigning Strome, why not try to get something in exchange?

Time is limited and nerves are high in Chicago. Does trading Debrincat speed up the Blackhawks rebuild or does it put them even further behind? Would trading Dach now be giving up too early on the young forward? Is letting Strome walk going to turn into another «one that got away» from the Blackhawks organization? So many questions, with such little time. In Kyle Davidson we trust.