Blackhawks forward opens up about being traded at the March trade deadline

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Sam Walker
March 2, 2024 (1:28 PM)

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Chicago Blackhawks forward Tyler Johnson recently opened up about the upcoming trade deadline and the mixed emotions it brings.

However, during those times, trade talks were a distant concern as the Lightning consistently chased Stanley Cup glory.

Fast forward to his tenure with the rebuilding Blackhawks, and the trade landscape looks starkly different. Johnson acknowledged the emotional toll of seeing teammates depart and the overall uncertainty surrounding the looming deadline.

"In Tampa, we were buyers most of the time, so guys weren't really too worried about trades," Johnson recalled. "But the last couple of years here, being sellers is different. You see a lot of guys go that you've been with all year, and they're family and friends, so it's tough to see them leave."

While the Blackhawks are anticipated to have a relatively quiet deadline, Johnson's impending free agency status makes him a potential trade target. Despite the speculation, he's doing his best to block out the noise and focus on the task at hand.

"I try not to think about it," Johnson remarked after a recent morning skate. "It's hard not to, though. Right now, I'm just focused on our team and playing the best we can and trying to do whatever I can to help the team."

Having been traded only once in his NHL career�from Tampa Bay to Chicago in the offseason�Johnson admitted that a mid-season move would be uncharted territory for him.

"I've never done it before, so it would be a little different," he acknowledged. "Who knows what will happen. I've been in a lot of rumors in a lot of years, so it's just how it is. "Try not to think about it, but obviously things do creep up," Johnson admitted. "It's been something that's kinda been all year. You never really know, I guess."