Assessing Chicago Blackhawks recent trades with history in mind
By Todd Welter
The NHL trade deadline has come and gone for the Chicago Blackhawks.
The Blackhawks were very active right up to the deadline’s final minutes. The Hawks needed to be active as they start rebuilding their roster towards contending for the Stanley Cup.
Patrick Kane, Jonathan Toews, and Alex DeBrincat remain. It was highly unlikely they would be moved.
Dylan Strome was not moved which was sort of surprising. He is set to be a free agent in the offseason and has been maddeningly inconsistent.
Calvin de Haan and Dominik Kubalik were surprising not traded. Both figured to be shipped out but are staying in Chicago for the rest of the season.
Not a fan of this. Per Scott Powers of The Athletic the #Blackhawks didn’t trade Dylan Strome or Dominik Kubalik. They’re not expected to be re-signed either. #HockeyTwitter
— Wally Mazurek (@WallMaz35) March 21, 2022
The Blackhawks did manage to pull off two blockbuster trades and one minor deal.
The minor deal was the Chicago Blackhawks traded Ryan Carpenter for a draft pick to the Calgary Flames.
Ryan Carpenter is going from #Blackhawks to #Flames in exchange for a 2024 5th round pick.@DailyFaceoff
— Frank Seravalli (@frank_seravalli) March 21, 2022
The Chicago Blackhawks also sent goalie Marc Andre-Fleury to the Minnesota Wild for a second-round draft pick. If Fleury helps lead the Wild to the Western Conference Finals, the pick turns into a first-rounder.
Fleury conditions: 2nd round pick becomes a 1st for #Blackhawks if MIN reaches Western Conference Final and Fleury accounts for 4 wins or more in first two rounds.
— Frank Seravalli (@frank_seravalli) March 21, 2022
There was some concern Fleury would not agree to a trade. In the end, the Chicago Blackhawks made sure he was sent to a team near Chicago as Fleury’s family will still reside in the area through the school year.
Eventually, it was Minnesota or bust. Between the chance to win, the ability to stay close to his family (who'll stay in Chicago through the school year), and the Pittsburgh connection he has with ex-teammate Bill Guerin and Ray Shero, Minnesota was the best (only?) fit.
— Mark Lazerus (@MarkLazerus) March 21, 2022
The other major trade the Chicago Blackhawks pulled off was with the Tampa Bay Lightning last week.
The Blackhawks traded promising forward Brandon Hagel along with a couple of fourth-round picks for two future first-round picks, forward Boris Katchouk, and forward Taylor Raddysh.