Blackhawks team reporter leaks serious info on blockbuster trade

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Joshua Deeds
August 9, 2024 (6:24)

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Mark Lazerus, NHL Insider who covers the Chicago Blackhawks for the Athletic, believes the Chicago Blackhawks are interested in John Tavares and Mitch Marner.

John Tavares is the current Captain of the Maple Leafs, and like Marner are entering the final years of their contract with the team.

The two players could walk into free agency come July 1st if both players don't get extended by GM Brad Treliving.

Lazerus believes if they do test free agency, the Blackhawks could come calling.

«With Mitch Marner, Brock Boeser, Nikolaj Ehlers, John Tavares, Shea Theodore, and Aaron Ekblad among the players slated for unrestricted free agency next summer, just as players such as Oliver Moore and Levshunov are ready to break into the NHL for good, things could get interesting very quickly,» Lazerus wrote in his article.

The Blackhawks writer believes that Kyle Davidson will be aggressive again in free agency to improve the teams roster again.

While the team is still rebuilding, either player could help push the team forward in the rankings.

Tavares played 80 games with the Maple Leafs in scoring 65 points(29 G, 36 A) and Marner scoring 85 points( 29 G, 56 A) in 2023-2024.

Lazerus believes the Blackhawks will again be aggressive in order to be competitive and become a playoff team. Evidence of this was shown during the NHL draft, as Davidson was open for business.

«The fact that Davidson was ready to trade next year's unprotected top pick (almost certainly a top-10 pick) to Columbus for the ability to draft Demidov is as clear a sign as any that the Blackhawks are ready to stop living years in the future. Could they deal away future picks for players? It's possible, but unlikely,» Lazerus wrote.

«Trades like that are rare, and it's not as if they'll be in the rental market at the trade deadline. But perhaps they look for this generation's Brian Campbell and/or Marian Hossa next summer � the player who signals to both the team and its fans that it's time to start taking the Blackhawks seriously again,» Lazerus added.

Even then, while Lazerus links both players to the Hawks, and Kyle Davidson would love to sign either one, it seems that both Marner and Tavares would love to stay in Toronto.

«That'd be a goal. I've expressed my love for this place, this city. Obviously, I've grown up here. We'll start thinking about that now and trying to figure something out. It means the world to me,» Marner told the media on May 6.

Tavares, meanwhile, left the New York Islanders to sign with his hometown team and would like to continue playing for Toronto.

«I love playing here. It's a remarkable place to play,» Tavares said. «And when I committed here six years ago, obviously I saw a tremendous amount of talent and an amazing hockey market and organization that's fully committed to winning and doing whatever it can � and I still feel that way.»,

We'll find out in 2025, whether Treliving prioritizes both Marner and Tavares or shifts direction.

Source: Heavy.com
Insider Links Blackhawks as Potential Suitors for 2 Maple Leafs Stars