Blackhawks Fans are Fearing the Worst
It’s nearing mid-June, in an odd year, and the Chicago Blackhawks aren’t in the Stanley Cup Final. No, not this year. This season the Hawks suffered a pummeling by the Nashville Preditors in the first round. After what seemed to be an embarrassing loss, Stan Bowman promised to make changes.
We saw a minor change with backup goalie Scott Darling being traded off, but there’s a much bigger trade looming. One that should have Blackhawks fans scared for one of their favorite players.
Jay Zawaski, from WSCR The Score tweeted a very interesting message Friday night.
Summarizing… pic.twitter.com/tSnaVAJeHe
— Jay Zawaski (@JayZawaski670) June 10, 2017
While Jay mentions that he does not know who the player is, it sounds like it will be a major shake-up to the roster. It also appears like the team is keeping this quiet, out of their respect for the player. They may not be spilling the beans just yet, but you can certainly follow the rabbit hole of the comments to the tweet as fans are already speculating as to who it will be.
A lot of people point to Brent Seabrook, and I’ve been asking for the team to trade him for three seasons now. Not because I didn’t like him, I do, I just felt he was replaceable and his salary demands would eventually strain the team. It makes sense, and even though he’s slowed (and looked horrible in the playoff series) team’s would certainly be interested in him. He still is a reliable two-way defender who won’t shy away from hitting.
What could put a damper in things… Scott Powers tweeted that Seabrook and Anisimov have not been asked to waive their no-trade. One would figure if a deal was imminent they would have been asked.
Was told Anisimov and Seabrook haven't been contacted to waive no-movement clauses as of now.
— Scott Powers (@ByScottPowers) June 10, 2017
I do think Seabrook will be dealt this off-season, I just dont think he is the guy they’re talking about here.
One option, which was brought up in that aforementioned rabbit hole, could be Marian Hossa. I know what you’re thinking… no team in their right mind would want that horrible contract of Hossa’s. You’re right, no one would have three years ago, but he’s going to earn a salary of $1 million each year over the next four years. He will carry a cap hit of $5.6 million, and could be the perfect guy for a team that needs to add salary to get over the floor.
He’s an option but… no team would trade a slew of prospects/draft picks for Hossa at this point. Definitely not to the extent it seems like Kay’s tweet is impkying. If a team needs to get over the salary floor, I’d also imagine they absolutely need their high-level prospects and draft picks.
Teams in the NHL love themselves gritty and consistent defenseman. That’s why we certainly could see Niklas Hjalmarsson be dangled. While Keith is more accomplished, Hammer could possibly be the best defender on the team right now. Or… because Hammer has passed Keith, perhaps they are dealing Keith? Either player would get a gigantic return, and would ensure the team is a viable playoff contender in three or four years.
I just don’t like a team that is already short defenders, trading their best defensemen. Sure every team in the league seems to have a pair of good defensemen, but you can’t count on replacing this type of player through drafts or prospects.
Maybe Patrick Kane? I mean he would get enough back to replenish the entire system and bring draft picks to boot. If it isn’t Jonathan Toews, really the only players I consider core anymore are Kane, Keith, and Hammer (possibly Corey Crawford). I don’t think they would deal Keith or Hammer, and while I don’t think they’d trade Kane either, he above anyone on this roster, has the ability to get the return to ensure Toews and company will be able to compete in a couple of seasons.
While Kane has matured, he has also put the organization through a lot in his time here, and I feel that has allowed Stan and crew to think he’s tradable. He has done a lot for this organization. I think he has done more than a lot of Blackhawks executives would like to ever admit. But he has also created an atmosphere which could potentially leave him as a piece they could move. I really really don’t like typing these words, but it makes sense.
I hate to say it… but… it very well could be Kane.
What are your thoughts? Who could it be? Let us know below.
It Better Not be Kane!!!
OMG it better NOT be Kaner, or Toews, that would not make any sense,
It would be a shame to see someone like Kane, Toews, Keith, or Seabrooke gone. But players come and go. Bobby Hull, Stan Mikita, Pat Stapleton, Heremy Roenuck, Ed Belfour. But if you ask me, you fall in love with the logo, the Blackhawk sweater. Holding on to players too long can put you in a hole for years. Today’s sports franchises are different, due to salary caps, big contracts etc. I would be disappointed initially to see one or more of this cores players gone, but I am a Chicago Blackhawk fan and will cheer for them long after these players are gone!