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REPORT: Blackhawks GM Ready to Make Massive Trade

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Graham Montgomery
November 26, 2023  (4:04 PM)
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The Chicago Blackhawks have embraced the rebuild like few teams have in recent years. Not only was the team bad enough to win the draft lottery last season and add Connor Bedard, but the team's contract structure allows them to be extremely flexible in the short term.

NHL Insiders Reveal Blackhawks Strategy For Trades This Season

Elliotte Friedman and Jeff Marek discussed Chicago's options on 32 thoughts this morning following the news that Taylor Hall will be out for the remainder of the season.

Hall is signed to a two-year, 12 million dollar contract with an average annual value of 6 million dollars. As such, the Blackhawks have gained 6 million in cap space with his injury. This gives the team the opportunity to take on bad salary from other teams in exchange for future assets like draft picks and prospects. Friedman and Marek shared their thoughts on what the rest of the season might look like in the windy city.

Marek: «Can the Chicago Blackhawks now play Kingmaker? We talked about negotiating from a position of strength and Kent Hughes picking up first round draft picks, etc. You know, you're the Chicago Blackhawks now and you've met this news about Taylor Hall.

What now if you're Chicago? Are you all of a sudden open for business? We'll take your bad deals, we'll also take your prospects and your pics.

Blackhawks To Take Advantage Of Injuries To Put Rebuild On Fast Forward

While the Blackhawks look like an improved team this year, they are still extremely unlikely to make the playoffs, especially with the key players they are missing from their lineup. We still have no idea what is going on with Corey Perry, who could be out of the lineup for a significant period of time as well.

The Blackhawks are also missing key forwards Taylor Hall and Andreas Athanasiou. Given where they are in the standings, it seems as though it would make the most sense for the team to bring in some bad contracts that are expiring this season to help out playoff teams with their cap situation. They team already has 13 picks in the first two rounds of the draft over the next three seasons, including 5 first rounders. Every pick is another chance to build the core of the next contender in Chicago though and the Hawks will surely be happy to pick up more of them.

The Hawks will be back in action on Tuesday when they take on the Seattle kraken. They are currently down 3-1 against the St. Louis Blues early in the 3rd period.

As seen on NHL Insider Reveals That the Chicago Blackhawks Might Be Open To a Trade Involving Prospects

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NOVEMBRE 26   |   224 ANSWERS
REPORT: Blackhawks GM Ready to Make Massive Trade

Should the Blackhawks take on more bad deals to gain picks and prospects?

Yes, of course10145.1 %
Sure, why not?7232.1 %
Doesn't matter177.6 %
No3415.2 %
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