Chicago Blackhawks shockingly own Florida in two trades
Lately, the Chicago Blackhawks have seen their play dip a bit over the last few weeks. They are still in that race for the last playoff berth in the Central Division but things are going to have to change if they want to get in. Despite being in this highly contested race, they are probably better off making future-minded deals at the 2021 NHL Trade Deadline. They have already made a few of those with the Florida Panthers.
The Chicago Blackhawks have done very well with the two trades they’ve made so far.
In somewhat shocking fashion, the Blackhawks have owned the Florida Panthers in the two trades they made. Both of them made the Chicago Blackhawks better right now and give them stuff for the future. This team isn’t good enough to win right now but they can elevate themselves in the future by making smart moves right now.
The first trade was when they sent Brad Morrison to the Panthers in exchange for Vinnie Hinostroza. Morrison was the player that came back in the Olli Maatta trade. He really had no chance of ever being in the NHL with the Hawks. Hinostroza was having a tough time in Florida with no points in nine games but he already has two points in two games with the Hawks. He seems to thrive playing with his hometown team.
The second trade that they made was a little bit more complicated than that. They sent Lucas Wallmark and Lucas Carlsson to the Florida Panthers in exchange for Henrik Borgstrom, Riley Stillman, Brett Connolly, and a seventh-round pick. This one was an example of the Blackhawks using their cap space as a weapon in a trade.
They took Connolly’s cap hit to get young players like Stillman and Borgstrom. Both of those guys could be big parts of this team’s future if they develop properly. In the meantime, Connolly is also a great goal scorer in this league that can help in the short term if used right. If Hinostroza signs an extension, which he just might, this would make for a great couple of trades that the Blackhawks made with the Florida Panthers.
Hot. Three trades the Chicago Blackhawks can make with the Toronto Maple Leafs. light
There are some other trades to consider before Monday’s deadline passes as well. Mattias Janmark and Carl Soderberg are candidates to be traded as they are older players with the remainder of this season left on their contracts. It will be interesting to see what they do but this was a phenomenal start for them.