The Chicago Blackhawks are already right in the middle of the NHL rumor mill, and it’s not hard to see why.
Even with October not over, trade chatter around the Blackhawks is picking up fast. On Tuesday against the Los Angeles Kings at the United Center, 18 teams had scouting representatives in the building. Since Sunday’s game against the Montreal Canadiens, 25 of the league’s 32 teams have been there.
That kind of interest has only fueled speculation, especially after Frank Seravalli reported that Chicago is looking to add a big scoring winger.
Once you start talking about a move like that, the Blackhawks’ center depth comes into focus quickly. Names like Frank Nazar and Oliver Moore have entered the discussion because around the league, centers are in demand and Chicago has more than a few young ones with upside. They still need development time, but that’s exactly what makes them appealing to other teams.
Teuvo Teravainen and Kevin Korchinski have also been part of the buzz. With Chicago sitting at 4-8-0 through 12 games, it makes sense that these names are circulating as the club considers ways to change course before it gets to the point of making a coaching change.
If Nazar and Moore both remain with the Blackhawks long term, one of them will probably have to shift to the wing full time. Neither has made that sound like a preferred path.
Korchinski is a different case. He’s a young defenseman who isn’t getting enough ice time to keep moving forward, but sending him to the AHL would mean waivers, and Chicago would almost certainly lose him for nothing.
Teravainen’s situation is more about fit and value. He was a healthy scratch on opening night, then later found himself running Chicago’s top power-play unit with Bowen Byram out.
That gives him a market. On a contender, he could fill the role of a secondary playmaker in the middle of a lineup.
For now, it’s all rumor. But around the NHL, smoke tends to lead somewhere, and the market could be about to take off.
Connor Hellebuyck was already traded from the Winnipeg Jets to the New Jersey Devils. Dylan Larkin of the Detroit Red Wings is next, according to the speculation.
After that, the trade market may open up in a big way.
In Other News...
Blackhawks Could Get Pulled Into A Pricey Young Winger Chase
A young winger with some upside is suddenly on the trade radar, and the Blackhawks have been mentioned among the teams in the mix. Washington is exploring options on Ivan Miroshnichenko, and his agent has been contacting multiple clubs, with interest said to be coming mostly from the Western Conference. For Chicago, it is the kind of conversation that fits a rebuilding timeline in theory, even if it immediately raises the question of how aggressive the front office wants to be for another player still early in his NHL path.
The wrinkle is the price. The Capitals are believed to want to move Miroshnichenko out of the Eastern Conference, and the early asking range being discussed is steep enough to make any interested team pause. If the Blackhawks stay involved, it would likely come down to how much they are willing to pay for potential versus patience, especially with other clubs circling and the bidding not sounding modest. [Read more 🡒]
Blackhawks Blue Line Suddenly Faces A Problem Ahead Of Road Trip
A road trip can expose a thin blue line in a hurry, and the Blackhawks are suddenly staring at that possibility with two of their left-shot defensemen in question. Head coach Jeff Blashill said Alex Vlasic is ill and questionable for Thursday against the Detroit Red Wings, a development that comes after he missed the morning skate and leaves Chicago juggling its back end before the trip really gets rolling.
Bowen Byrams situation only adds to the uncertainty. He remains sidelined with an upper-body injury and is also uncertain for the next game against the Boston Bruins, leaving the Blackhawks without much clarity on how their defense will look in the near term. For a team trying to get through a stretch on the road, the timing is far from ideal. [Read more 🡒]
Blackhawks Have An Early Problem Kyle Davidson May Need To Fix
Through the first 12 games, the Blackhawks have looked like a team that can skate, but not always one that can consistently make life difficult on opponents. The numbers behind that impression are stark enough to raise an early concern: Chicago sits near the bottom of the league in both hits and blocked shots, a sign that the roster still lacks some of the grit and edge that tends to travel well over an 82-game season.
For a team trying to build a tougher identity without blowing up its plans, that leaves Kyle Davidson with a familiar kind of balancing act. The Blackhawks can hope for more bite from the players already in the room, but the article also points to possible outside help in Paul Cotter and Nick Seeler, two names that could add some needed physicality without forcing a major investment. [Read more 🡒]