If other NHL teams want to do business with the Chicago Blackhawks, go ahead and give the team a call. New general manager Kyle Davidson a call. He’s clearly ready to talk trades and he’s apparently made it clear to one NHL insider that there are few untouchables on his roster.
That doesn’t mean everyone is available. According to Daily Faceoff’s Frank Seravalli, a couple of key names are not available in trade. Seravalli said while on SN650 that Patrick Kane, Jonathan Toews, and Seth Jones are the only untouchables for Chicago. Apparently, if you want to take a run at trading for anyone else, they’ll listen.
What’s so interesting about this is that these are names that have been tossed around a bit in the rumor mill. Should the Blackhawks want to tear it down and start again, there’s some logic behind asking Kane or Toews where they sit in terms of their willingness to be moved. If they aren’t keen on finishing their contracts with a rebuilding team, the Blackhawks could get a decent return for either, especially Kane. Per the report, that’s out.
In other words, the Blackhawks seem to have subtly let everyone know they are not rebuilding. They are retooling and their veterans are staying put.
Also intriguing, this leaves available a player like Alex DeBrincat available. Perhaps he’s not likely to be moved and just wasn’t mentioned. Perhaps the ask would be so incredible that it’s not believed a team will meet the Blackhawks’ asking price. Still, that he wasn’t included in that very small group of untouchable players is telling.
As for Jones. His not being available is likely a combination of the Blackhawks recently signing him to a long-term deal and at a number most teams won’t go near. Clearly, the Blackhawks see him as an important piece to their future, but they’re also prepared to take their lumps on that deal, if it comes to that.
Who Is Available?
The obvious names to look at in trade are Dylan Strome, Dominik Kubalik, Marc-Andre Fleury, and Calvin De Haan. All of these players could theoretically move before this year’s deadline, with Fleury having the most say in his final destination.
Expect some teams to kick tires on names like Kirby Dach and DeBrincat, just to see what it would cost to get them out of Chicago.
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