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Assessing Chicago Blackhawks recent trades with history in mind

By Todd Welter

Mar 6, 2022; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Blackhawks left wing Brandon Hagel (38) tips a shot in front of Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy (88) during the third period at United the Center. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 6, 2022; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Blackhawks left wing Brandon Hagel (38) tips a shot in front of Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy (88) during the third period at United the Center. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports /
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Photo by Andre Ringuette/Getty Images
Photo by Andre Ringuette/Getty Images /

The Blackhawks trade Dustin Byfuglien to Atlanta after winning the 2010 Stanley Cup

The Chicago Blackhawks were in a salary-cap crunch after winning the Stanley Cup in 2010. The Hawks needed to clear salary-cap space fast.

The Blackhawks traded Byfuglien, one of the heroes in the Stanley Cup run, along with Brent Sopel and Ben Eager to the Atlanta Thrashers as a cap clearing trade. The Thrashers sent back a first-round pick, a second-round pick, forwards Marty Reasoner and Joey Crabb, and prospect Jeremy Morin.

Byfuglien went on to make three All-Star teams with the Winnipeg Jets after the Thrashers moved to Winnipeg and changed the team name.

The Blackhawks turned around and traded Reasoner to the Florida Panthers for center Jeff Taffe. Taffe skated in just one game for the Chicago Blackhawks.

The Hawks only acquired the exclusive negotiating rights window to Crabb. He ended up not agreeing to terms and signed a free-agent contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Morin had star potential but he never realized it with the Blackhawks.

The Blackhawks selected Kevin Hayes with the first-round pick acquired in the trade. Hayes never skated for the Chicago Blackhawks as the sides were never able to agree to terms.

The Blackhawks ended up with four second-round picks in the 2010 draft with none panning out.

The three failed Brandon Saad trades

Credit: Matt Marton-USA TODAY Sports
Credit: Matt Marton-USA TODAY Sports /

Brandon Saad was a great second-round pick in the 2011 draft for the Chicago Blackhawks.

He helped the Blackhawks win the 2013 and 2015 Stanley Cups.

Bowman did not want to meet Saad’s pending free agent asking price so he traded him away to the Columbus Blue Jackets

A few seasons later Bowman traded to get Saad back. When his second tour of duty did not work out, Bowman traded Saad away again. None of those trades worked out in the Blackhawks’ favor.

Hopefully, history does not repeat itself with the Blackhawks’ two major blockbuster deals this season. A successful rebuild is depending on these deals working in the Blackhawks’ favor.

Related Story. Not trading Kane or DeBrincat is a mistake for Chicago Blackhawks. light

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