Chicago Blackhawks To Send Hinostroza, Oesterle To Coyotes With Hossa Contract

It’s no surprise the Chicago Blackhawks are trying to move Marian Hossa‘s contract after he announced his retirement, but today’s report that Vinnie Hinostroza is also part of that setup was more shocking

It was already known that Chicago Blackhawks general manager Stan Bowman wanted to move Marian Hossa’s contract this offseason after Hossa announced his retirement. What might have to go along with that contract should it be traded was less clear.

Apparently, the answer is Vinnie Hinostroza and Jordan Oesterle. The Hinostroza part of this is a bit of a surprise, although it’s not like the Arizona Coyotes would be willing to take on someone like Chris Kunitz along with Hossa’s contract.

Hinostroza is not super young, necessarily, as he checks in at 24 years old. But he seemed to be finding his niche with the Blackhawks after some up-and-down time between them and the Rockford IceHogs.

Oesterle is becoming more unnecessary for the Blackhawks on the back end with their growing number of young blueline prospects, so his loss is not major.

A report also suggests the Blackhawks will be getting assets from Arizona in return for sending Hinostroza and Hossa’s contract out West.

For what it’s worth, former Blackhawks Marcus Kruger and Niklas Hjalmarsson currently play for the Coyotes. But the Blackhawks could be getting younger, more cost-controlled players in return with the thought of keeping some cap space open to make another offseason move.

There already is some groaning on social media about this move, though it seems to be based on the idea this trade is akin to the Blackhawks moving Teuvo Teravainen to Carolina in the Bryan Bickell deal.

Make no mistake: Those two trades are not the same thing, in the sense that Hinostroza is not on the same plane as Teuvo. He’s far from the best young forward the Blackhawks presently have as well, and the Blackhawks could get a fine young forward back in return.

The bigger concern being brought up — and it’s far more legitimate, in my opinion  is this one:

Did possible destinations for Hossa’s contract (not that there are a ton) bottle up until after free agency opened? I’m not suggesting some sort of collusion, but it’d be easy for other GMs to stay off the phone with Bowman on this matter until it became less lucrative for the Blackhawks to move Hossa’s contract.

Next: Blackhawks' Bad Offseason Demands Concrete Plan

Regardless, this story is definitely still developing. So there will be more to talk about very soon.