The Blackhawks have interest in players they should be looking to trade this season.
The Chicago Blackhawks are very clear sellers as the team is 31st in the NHL with 38 points in 53 games. As the trade deadline approaches, this means that Chicago is going to do what they can to sell off some or all of their remaining assets.
Insider Elliotte Friedman reported that there was lots of scouting attention on the Blackhawks/Edmonton Oilers game as well as another game on Wednesday (Feb. 5) due to the lack of games to watch. As the Blackhawks have cap space and some trade candidates that could be useful to a playoff team or even a team in the running, there are three players in particular that were mentioned.
Connor Murphy, Ryan Donato, and Seth Jones were all brought up as players other teams have eyes on.
Now that Murphy is healthy and playing, the veteran defensemen is attractive to teams that need a 4th/5th defenseman who can lock things down defensively for a fair price. The Blackhawks are retaining cap on Jake McCabe and Mikko Rantanen this season, so that does take up two of the three retention spots every team possesses at a time. If the Blackhawks are looking to move Murphy and Jones during this season, that could come with complications then.
Murphy is the player Chicago would most likely want to retain cap for more as his contract only extends through next season at $4.4 million AAV. The Blackhawks could eat up to a maximum of $2.2 million. Jones, on the other hand, has five more years at $9.5 million AAV with a full no-move clause.
Despite Murphy missing 13 games this season, he leads all Blackhawks defensemen in hits (70) and is a close second to Alex Vlasic for the team lead in blocked shots (96). Murphy also logs over 20:30 of ice time this season which includes over 91 minutes on the penalty kill and has 13 points. He should be seen as the second-most likely Blackhawk to move this season after Donato.
Speaking of Donato, he should be as good as gone. His versatility and effectiveness anywhere he plays in the lineup makes him a perfect depth target for many or all playoff teams. He has a lot of rumored suitors after him and has 16 goals and 32 points while averaging under 15 minutes per game this season at only $2 million AAV. Donato is a rental and should get a good return.
Jones is a tough player to trade during the season. A player with a contract of this magnitude is much easier to trade when games aren't going on and teams don't have to be cap compliant at all times. Jones would be willing to leave as it is evident from a previous interview that he didn't sign this contract with Chicago to be on a rebuilding team.
I don't believe he will be that difficult on the Blackhawks in vetoing a trade to any sort of team in the playoff race, but it is a matter of who is going to take on his contract and with how much retention by Chicago.
It likely isn't going to be a great trade deadline for the Blackhawks, but after trading Taylor Hall and coming away with a third-round pick, it should be seen as a win if Chicago can trade two of the three remaining top trade assets in the next month and get a better picture for the off-season.
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