While the NHL trade deadline is a bit out of view for most NHL teams, some organizations will already know whether they’re poised to be buyers or sellers. The Chicago Blackhawks are one such team. Even if Chicago had overperformed their expectations this year, it is unlikely the team would try to make additions to the roster. A solid performance has not materialized and the Blackhawks find themselves dead last in the standings. It is safe to say the Blackhawks will be a seller at the upcoming trade deadline in March. It’s time for the team to start analyzing Chicago Blackhawks trade candidates.
Chicago Blackhawks Trade Candidates
With a rebuilding team, as the Blackhawks are, there are always many trade candidates. This could include overperforming veterans on expiring deals, players entering their prime who don’t want to be part of a rebuild or a myriad of other factors that could lead to a player being shipped out of town for assets. That being said, there are a few players that stick out as especially intriguing.
Nick Foligno
Nick Foligno is the quintessential trade candidate. The veteran forward is 36 years old, on an expiring deal, and provides something contending teams are usually interested in. Experience, leadership and grit. Foligno ranks fourth on the team in points, serves as an assistant captain and is one of the few players on the team that consistently contributes. Foligno is a proven leader, having earned the Mark Messier Leadership Award when he captained the Columbus Blue Jackets. The left winger has also been an attractive trade piece in the past with the Toronto Maple Leafs shelling out a first-round pick in a trade for the player at the deadline several years ago. Many contending teams would be happy to add a versatile and dependable player to their lineup.
Despite several attractive qualities, the Chicago Blackhawks may want to hang onto the player. While the team finds themselves in a rebuild, it is crucial to have some veteran presence to shepherd along young players. The Blackhawks built a foundation of veterans this offseason when they acquired Taylor Hall in a trade and Corey Perry in a free-agent signing. Hall finds himself on the injury list for the rest of the season while Corey Perry is off the team entirely. This leaves the Blackhawks with a tough situation. Foligno may be the most important veteran piece on the team. If Foligno is not interested in re-signing, Chicago must move him, but if he’s interested in staying? It may be worth hanging onto the player.
Jason Dickinson
Jason Dickinson is another obvious answer when looking at Chicago Blackhawks trade candidates. Dickinson scores at a decent rate for a bottom-six player (30 points in 78 games last year, 18 points in 38 games as of the time of this writing.) The defensive specialist also possesses a reasonable cap hit at just $2,650,000 per year. At just 28 years old, Dickinson also has value as a player for a team’s future. In short, Dickinson is a prime candidate for a trade.
The gritty centre has been solid for the Blackhawks, but there seem to be fewer questions surrounding whether they should keep him. Dickinson appears primed as a Chicago Blackhawks trade candidate. What could Chicago get for him? Last year, Oskar Sundqvist, a player with a similar role and cap hit, landed the Detroit Red Wings a fourth-round pick at the deadline. Dickinson plays centre, which presumably makes him a bit more valuable. If the Blackhawks can net a third-round draft pick for the versatile Dickinson, look for him to move at the deadline.
Tyler Johnson
Our final player among the Chicago Blackhawks trade candidates is Tyler Johnson. Johnson’s trade candidacy has some issues, including that he recently found himself on the injury list. The experienced forward also has a no-movement clause that may make it difficult to find a partner. If both of these can be overcome, however, Johnson could be a perfect player for Chicago to move as the deadline nears. Johnson plays centre, which is always valuable for contending teams looking for depth. He also has a winning pedigree, winning back-to-back Stanley Cups with the Tampa Bay Lightning. His breakout performance in the 2014-15 playoffs for Tampa Bay is deep in the rearview mirror, but he still has crucial experience in finishing the proverbial job.
Tyler Johnson’s stats don’t jump off the page, and he’s smaller than the average deadline acquisition to get size. He also is on an expiring contract that the Blackhawks would likely have to retain to get a deal done. Johnson may not be the most important acquisition at this year’s deadline, but he plays an important position and brings a winning pedigree. These factors make him worth a look for contending teams.
Chicago Blackhawks Trade Deadline Outlook
While Foligno, Dickinson and Johnson fit the mould for traditional trade deadline targets, there will almost certainly be other players in the mix for Chicago. The team should be looking to acquire assets at almost any cost. The team has some incredible prospects but needs to find them help as soon as possible. Look to this trade deadline as an opportunity for Chicago to amass assets that can help them in the future.
Main Photo Credit: Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports
