The Blackhawks have made three players available for trade.
As part of the rebuilding process, the team aims to accumulate older players who can help boost their careers in terms of stats and accolades, and then sell them at the trade deadline to teams poised to contend for the Stanley Cup during a long playoff run.
This strategy allows teams to continue amassing assets in the form of prospects and draft picks, which will help round out their roster and give them complete control over their salary cap.
The Blackhawks find themselves in this position as they enter the second year of their full-scale rebuild. They still have several players on the roster who could be offered to other teams to facilitate the selling process. Notably, Nikita Zaitsev, Tyler Johnson, and Jarred Tinordi have been identified as available for trade by off-the-record columnist Jimmy Murphy.
Zaitsev is the least likely to be moved, given his declining performance since signing a seven-year contract extension with the Toronto Maple Leafs, which pays him around $5,000,000 per year. If the Blackhawks were to trade him, they would likely need to retain 50% of his salary to make him somewhat attractive to other teams. However, based on evidence from the Senators, the Blackhawks, and the Maple Leafs, it appears unlikely that he will be moved anytime soon.
Playoff-bound teams typically seek depth defensemen with grit and physicality, attributes that become crucial during the playoffs. Jarred Tinordi would be a valuable addition to any team's bottom three defence, as he can log minutes on the penalty kill and provide a physical presence. Tinordi is in the final year of his $1.25 million contract, making him a cost-effective option for interested teams.
Tyler Johnson is the most likely candidate to be traded this season, as he still possesses the ability to score goals. Early in the current season, he has already scored three goals and maintained a steady performance.
While his cap hit is $5 million, some salary retention may be required, but he represents the Blackhawks' best chance to acquire a decent prospect or draft pick as part of the trade.
Whether the Blackhawks will indeed trade these players remains to be seen, but it seems highly likely, as the rebuild is expected to accelerate in the coming months.
| POLL | ||
Which Blackhawk is most likely to be moved prior to the trade deadline? | ||
| Tyler Johnson | 62 | 48.4 % |
| Nikita Zaitsev | 38 | 29.7 % |
| Jarred Tinordi | 28 | 21.9 % |
| List of polls | ||
