The Chicago Blackhawks pulled off a trade with the San Jose Sharks that sent Laurent Brossoit as the main piece to the Sharks, but Nolan Allan and a 2028 seventh-round pick was also included. Headed back to Chicago was Ryan Ellis (LTIR), Jake Furlong, and a 2028 fourth-round pick.
The Blackhawks had no use for Brossoit as Drew Commesso is nearing more playing time in the NHL and Adam Gajan and Stanislav Berezhnoy are in the system as well. But while the Blackhawks moved a goalie out, they also downgraded defensemen.
Allan had a solid first 43 games for the Blackhawks last season as a 21-year-old, but didn't make the team this season and hasn't played another game in the NHL. He has been stuck in the AHL, along with multiple other young talented defensemen because Chicago has drafted so many good ones in previous seasons and have a couple veterans in the NHL that need to be moved.
Connor Murphy and Matt Grzelcyk are both in their final years with the Blackhawks, but that didn't stop Chicago from moving Allan, who arguably deserves more NHL time, to be moved. Assuming two defensive spots are opened up by the trade deadline and the Blackhawks hold seven defensemen on the roster, that means Ethan Del Mastro, Sam Rinzel, and Kevin Korchinski will get the call and play in the NHL later in the season. That is if the Blackhawks don't bring back any filler defensemen for the remainder of the season.
Even if Allan were to have stayed with the Blackhawks, there are too many other defensemen who have stepped up and seemingly passed him this season. Louis Crevier is an important one as he was on the brink of being moved, but the Blackhawks stuck with him and he's been a top pairing d-man for a portion of this season.
Chicago was never going to be able to hold all of the young and talented defensemen they had and there were going to be trades, but it seems a bit underwhelming for Allan to be part of such a weak return.
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