Chicago Blackhawks: 6 potential moves to get back to contention
By Clay Swallow
Trade Artem Anisimov to clear cap space
Artem Anisimov is another Blackhawk that could very likely be on the move within the next couple of days. The Blackhawks asked Anisimov to submit a list of 10 teams that he would allow a trade to on July 1st when the new league year starts. Anisimov carries a cap hit of just over 4.2 million dollars for the next three years.
He has been a productive player and has had three strait 20-goal seasons since his arrival in Chicago, but he is very one-dimensional in the fact that he seems to only play well when he is playing with Kane. That would be fine except the Hawks already have Kane’s center for the foreseeable future in Schmaltz, so Anisimov is kind of without a position right now.
On a contending team he could be a very valuable middle-six center and has a very good knack for being around the net at the right time. He’s also consistent in getting the greasy goals that you have to have to win in the playoffs. However, the Hawks simply cannot afford to pay his salary for a third line center right now. The Hawks can probably get a useful piece in return for Anisimov Something like a second round pick and a decent prospect would be the ceiling for his return, should the Hawks look to move him.