How the next 365 days will drastically change the future of the Blackhawks

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Ryan
June 13, 2022 (5:57 PM)

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By now you have probably heard the chatter from NHL Insider Frank Seravalli that young superstar Alex DeBrincat is expected to be traded before next years trade deadline.

TRADE TARGETS 🎯: #Blackhawks 41-goal scorer Alex DeBrincat leads off the first board of the summer as the No. 1 player available.

Here are @DailyFaceoff's 25 names in play with exactly 5 weeks until the #NHLDraft:https://t.co/JTDhFISc45� Frank Seravalli (@frank_seravalli) June 9, 2022

According to Seravalli in the article above "the question is "when" and not "if" the Hawks will move the two time 40 goal scorer". While this may come as a bit of a shock to Blackhawks fans, it is most likely not a shock for teams around the league. DeBrincat is a young budding superstar about to enter his prime as he turns 25 this December. With one year remaining on his contract before becoming a RFA DeBrincat is certainly going to draw the attention of GM's around the league. According to NHL insider David Pagnotta, the New Jersey Devils could be one of those teams.

Which Chicago players are garnering interest?@EJHradek_NHL | @TheFourthPeriod pic.twitter.com/bIw3n3AXJX� NHL Network (@NHLNetwork) June 12, 2022

While Hawks fans may be questioning the logic behind moving on from their young superstar, it does make sense when thinking about it rationally for two major reasons. The first being rebuilds are not a short process, it could be a very long time before the Blackhawks are ready to compete again and GM Kyle Davidson could view keeping DeBrincat on a bottom dwelling team is not only a waste of his talent but of an asset that could be used to start the rebuild off in the right direction. There is also the chance of DeBrincat not wanting to waste his prime on a team that isn't going to be contending, while he may be saying all the right things in press conferences, losing takes a toll and the Hawks are headed for a ton of losing over the years.

Another reason, pointed out by the Athletic's Scott Powers is that the current construction of the Blackhawks roster might not be bad enough to actually tank.

If the goal is to tank for the No. 1 draft pick next season, are the Blackhawks actually bad enough or do they need to get even worse this offseason? ⁦@hayyyshayyy⁩ and I examine. https://t.co/J1ywRXeJ3m� Scott Powers (@ByScottPowers) June 9, 2022

Nothing stunts a rebuild like being middling team picking outside of the top 3-10 of the first round. Keeping a elite talent like DeBrincat to try and build around could hinder the Hawks from drafting elite players to supplement around him, so it seems like Kyle Davidson's plan is tear it down and completely start over. Which while might be painful for fans right now, it is ultimately the right move. The Blackhawks had the Athletic's 8th worst prospect pool and only one prospect ranked in the top 100 by TSN in Lukas Reichel. So cupboard is pretty bare when it comes to players who could be the next core of the Blackhawks, and moving on from players fans love while getting good returns for them is the faster way back to contending.

This also likely means moving on from the current faces of the franchise as well, in Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews. Both have one year remaining on their contracts and will be turning 34 and 35 years old during the next season. Them both being here for the rebuild seems highly unlikely given their age, and skill sets still being valuable to an actual contender. While they both have NMC's, meaning they would have to approve the trade if they were to leave, it is something that would not surprising at all especially by next years trade deadline. But if the goal is to tank as it seems expected to be, could they both be on the move sooner? As reported by Scott Powers this roster might not be bad enough to actually tank, which is true. How many times have we seen Kane and Cat have 3rd period offensive surge to force OT and then steal a win that the team had no right winning? Even if they're not gone during the year you have to wonder if they really wanna waste the ends of their careers on a team in the basement of the league?

For those wondering why the Hawks are trying to tank so fast the answer only needs two words: Connor Bedard.

The 16 year old sensation has already been hailed as the next "Next One" and been projected for over a year now to be the first pick off the board in the 2023 draft. Given exceptional status to play in the WHL as an under age player he recorded 28 points in 15 games at only 15 years old. Having just finished his second season (which age wise would have been his first if not given exceptional status) he record 51 goals and 100 points in only 62 games. Bedard also dazzled in the short U20 WJC this past winter recording 5 points in the only 2 games played before the cancelation, and is expected to put on a show again as it was rescheduled to take place later this summer. Bedard already seems like a lock to be the next great generational talent, given his game wrecking ability, dynamic offensive talent, elite speed, hands, playmaking and shot. So it is no wonder why Kyle Davidson is thinking now is the time to tear it all down and build back up again as Bedard should be the perfect player to build around.

But Kyle Davidson has also announced he would like to acquire a first pick in this years draft as well, and given how the majority of the reason seems to be on the table for trades, what are some prospects that Davidson could have his eye on in the first round?

Here is who I view as the 3 most intriguing prospects in this years draft.

Logan Cooley

The left handed American born center boast elite skating ability and a strong two way game. His elite level skating allows him to create offense off the rush while being able to get and contribute on defense, while also posting good numbers at the face off dot, and some prolific offense while at the US National Development Program with 111 points in 75 games this past year. Cooley is currently committed to the University of Minnesota next season and will likely spend a year or two playing in NCAA before making the jump to the NHL. While some scouts have him ranked as the number 2 prospect, others believe his speed and skating ability could leap him over Shane Wright for the number 1 spot. While Cooley may seem like one of the more unattainable prospects for the Blackhawks this draft, the rumors of New Jersey being interested in DeBrincat could be how Davidson moved up to take Cooley if the 2nd overall pick is part of that package.

David Jiricek

Expected to be the first defenseman taken off the board in this years draft, Jiricek looks to be the model defenseman for the modern NHL. His two way game as a defenseman is highlighted by his premier skating ability, bomb of a shot, and instincts to activate offensively whether it be from the point or on the rush. Jiricek also boast the size and reach to able to shutdown the opposition at 6'3", when factoring in his skating and instincts he has all the makings of a top pair defenseman. While his ranking from most scouts and insiders is up and down the top 10, Jiricek could be another name Davidson has his eyes on when it comes to trading into the first round. While the Hawks have an abundance of defensive prospects, none of them are highly touted by anyone outside of the organization. While that does not mean there isn't any hope or hype for their defensive prospects, none of them have the ceiling that Jiricek has. Which could be exactly why he could be the one the Hawks try to land this summer.

Brad Lambert

Lambert is the one prospect I view as the most intriguing of these three. Starting the year ranked inside of the top 10, Lambert currently is ranked by scouts all over the first round after struggling to produce offensively playing against grown men in the Finnish Elite League. Which should not be a concern considering Lambert had just turned 18 this last December, and unlike the majority of other prospects in this draft Lambert was not playing against high school or college kids, he was a kid playing amongst men. He has dominated offensively in the junior leagues in Finland, as well as put up offense in his last two U20 WJC as top player for Finland. Being able to play both center and the wing, Lambert is a dynamic offensive threat thanks to his elite skating, stick handling, and play making creativity. He is a dangerous player when given time and space and would certainly give the Blackhawks prospect pool a boost of dynamic talent should they trade up to take him in the first round.

The moves at this years draft and through next years trade deadline could be vital to the beginning of the Blackhawks rebuild, with so many moving pieces and uncertainty fans could be looking at entirely different roster by the start of the 2023 NHL season. It's time to hop on the ride and trust the process folks.