The Chicago Blackhawks currently sit 8 points out of a playoff spot, and with the trade deadline fastly approaching the question still remains are they going to be buyers or sellers? With such an uphill battle in order to make the playoffs it is most likely that Chicago will be a seller in February. The Hawks will try and get draft picks and prospects in the hopes that those players will be a big part to the future Hawks team. Stan Bowman is not a shy guy when it comes to making moves. Bowman will most likely make a move sometime soon, the only question is who will be the player with a flight leaving Chicago. Let’s take a look at who we believe could be on a flight leaving Chicago soon.
Artem Anisimov
Artem Anisimov was a great centerman between Patrick Kane and Artemi Panarin. He was able to play the middle position and stand in front of the net while they took shots. Anismove put up 97 points in the two season he played with Panarin and Kane, and was rewarded with a 4.5 million dollar contract. Anisimov was then shifted to the 3rd line centerman position in the past two seasons without Panarin. This season Anisimov is struggling. He is having a hard time finding a position that really fits, the team is young and does not need a big slow center. His plus minus this season and last is in the negatives, meaning he has been out on the ice for a lot of goals against. Anisimov might be a great added depth player for a team pushing for the playoffs, and, with 4.5 million on the cap book for another 2 years, would be a expendable piece for the future of the team. Anisimov has a lot of hockey left in him, just maybe not with the Blackhawks.
Corey Crawford
Corey Crawford may have played his last hockey game, or at least his last hockey game in the Hawks uniform. Crow is injury prone. He has had a lot of concussion problems, and the Hawks just do not need to have that moving forward. Collin Delia appears to be the future in the blue paint, therefore Crow may be on his way out.
Duncan Keith
The Chicago Blackhawks had a great core group of players when they won their 3 Stanley Cups. Keith was a big part of the championships, and with a very friendly cap hit of 5 million would be a bargain on any blue line. Keith is a 2 time Norris trophy winner, and would slot very nicely in a top 4 position for a defense pushing for a championship. Keith is not a top 2 defenseman anymore, but the Hawks continue to use him in that fashion. On a different team Keith can strive in the top 4 and really make a difference. Which is why Duncan Keith could win another Stanley Cup, just maybe not in Chicago.
Cam Ward
Cam Ward should not have come to Chicago in the first place. If Collin Delia really is the Blackhawks future, then Ward does not really need to stick around. Sure Ward might be able to fill the Hawks backup position but for 3 million is it really necessary? Maybe a team desperate to push for a playoff spot that needs a goalie would be willing to give the Hawks a first round pick…
Erik Gustafsson
Erik Gustafsson is having a great season, not a breakout season, a great season. Gustafsson has 8 goals and 21 assists this season. The Blackhawks hopefully do not picture Erik Gustafsson in the top 2 in the long term. Gustafsson is simply capitalizing off of success from Kane the same way Anisimov did a few years back. If the Hawks move Gustafsson this year they might be able to oversell the wealth of Gustafsson and get more for him, like a good prospect or draft pick. With another year on a 1 million dollar contract Gustafsson might be a steal if he truly is a top 2 defenseman. I just hope Stan Bowman does not buy that.
Disclaimer:
I was thinking about putting a name like Toews or Kane on here, but if I am being honest I do not imagine either of those two will ever play in a different uniform. Although trading Kane would really speed up this “retool” of the team, Chicago can not let their top stars walk away. If any player is to be traded it is one of the 5 guys we said above.
Comments