Last week we looked at who Stan Bowman and the Chicago Blackhawks should target at the upcoming trade deadline. There are two sides to a trade, however, and in order for Chicago to be active at the deadline they’ll need to get their players in order. For each buyer at the trade deadline there are a handful of players that are the low men on the totem pole. This season for Chicago there are a handful of guys that could dangled at the deadline. Let’s take a look at potential trade bait for the Blackhawks at the upcoming deadline.
Potential Chicago Blackhawks Trade Deadline Bait
What About Dylan Strome?
There are more than few rumors floating around about the Blackhawks chances of trading Dylan Strome if the price is right. Then again that whole “if the price is right” narrative can go with any player on any team. With that being said the chances of Strome being traded might be higher than Bowman makes it seem. If there’s a player on the roster than can really bring in high level prospects, high picks, and a good replacement level player it’d be Strome. He’s playing some of the best hockey of his career despite the 32 point pace he’s currently at. There are a few teams with the forward depth that could do this. The Carolina Hurricanes might be an option with players like Warren Foegele and Martin Necas that could go to Chicago.
There are plenty of other teams with similar players that could be suitable trade partner for a Strome deal. A bubble team like the Philadelphia Flyers or the Arizona Coyotes have similar players to trade for Strome. It might be in Arizona’a best interest t try to fish out a draft pick or prospect from Chicago in that kind of deal considering their situation with upcoming drafts.
Mattias Janmark
Mattias Janmark is having himself a decent season with Chicago. In his previous two seasons with the Dallas Stars he scored 12 total goals. This season through 37 games he has scored 10, marking the first time he’s done so since the 2017-18 season. And that’s only the surface of his season in Chicago. He’s also seen a two minute increase in ice time, significant special teams minutes, and is on pace for his best season over 82 games. Despite all of this, Janmark is the most likely Blackhawk to be dealt at the deadline for Chicago. His top six flexibility and his above-average two way game makes him a nice target for many playoff bubble teams.
Janmark’s contract with the team expires this summer so losing him at the deadline wouldn’t hurt all that much. However Bowman has mentioned recently that he is looking to trade for future assets, not just rental players. Because of this the likely asking price for Janmark might not be a roster player that can replace his lineup spot. Rather it might be draft picks and a B-level prospect. That’s a lot cheaper than a roster player, opening the door to a lot of teams for a potential trade. With the Blackhawks in the race for a playoff spot, however, a rental player paired with a prospect or a pick would be a favorable asking price from Bowman.
Calvin de Haan
When Calvin de Haan was brought in a season ago it was to be an immediate fix to the team’s poor defence. This season he’s been serviceable at best, but his presence on the blue line isn’t as necessary anymore. Guys like Nicolas Beaudin and Wyatt Kalynuk, among others, are ready to make an impact at the NHL level. Because of this it leaves de Haan as the odd man out on the defensive depth charts. Because of this, his price will likely be similar to Janmark’s price, picks and prospects and potentially a rental replacement.
The likelihood of de Haan being traded depends heavily on the upcoming expansion draft this summer. If Bowman would like to protect certain guys over de Haan in order to ensure other players stay with Chicago, then he might not trade him. Besides, de Haan is a very reliable top four defenceman that Seattle would benefit heavily from having. However if Bowman values picks and prospects coming back and wants to risk a player’s roster spot this summer, then trading de Haan could be the move he makes.
Carl Soderberg
There’s something about Chicago having a slight abundance of defensive minded forwards that makes this list a little tricky. However those types of forwards are valued in today’s league. Despite Carl Soderberg‘s age he still plays at a high level of skill for a bottom six forward. He’s currently on pace to score 35 points over an 82 game season and can fit nicely into any team’s penalty kill. Bubble teams and true contenders alike could use that type of player down the stretch and into the playoffs. He wins over half of his face-offs and is a reliable presence in the defensive end of the ice. With his age being what it is, don’t expect more than a pick to be the likely trade price.
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