The Blackhawks cannot have a repeat of the 2020 trade deadline

Last season saw the Chicago Blackhawks make two deals at the deadline. While neither brought in that much for the team, both did involve two big players within the Hawks organization.

Last year on trade deadline day, the Hawks sent Robin Lehner to the Vegas Golden Knights right before the deadline passed. The deal, which also involved the Toronto Maple Leafs, sent Lehner to Vegas for a second-round pick and Malcolm Subban.

For a goaltender that could have become the future netminder for many years to come in Chicago, Stan Bowman should have got more than just a second for Lehner. The other deadline deal sent Erik Gustafsson to the Calgary Flames for a third-round pick.

Adding two draft picks is nice, but Gustafsson was a year removed from putting up 60 points, and a third-round pick honestly is not enough for a defenseman that can be that dominant in the offensive zone.

Somehow, Stan Bowman still got taken advantage of at the deadline, something that can not repeat in 2020-21. Teams knew that Bowman was looking to move one of their goalies and Gustafsson last season, and they took advantage of that up until the final minute of the deadline.

In 2020-21 Bowman needs to do a better job playing his cards in order to help make the Blackhawks better.

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While Mattias Janmark might not have the most stock on this team when it comes to a trade, there is no reason this team cannot net a third-round pick for him. Janmark is a player that can be a difference-maker in the bottom six for a team trying to make the playoffs. If other teams are unwilling to give as much as they should, then Bowman might be better off holding onto his players instead of just giving them away for less.

The same thing goes for Dylan Strome. Strome is someone that a team trades, not just planning for this season. If someone is interested in acquiring Strome, that needs to be a deal that is worth the Blackhawks’ time, not just a few draft picks.

There is a genuine possibility that the Blackhawks do not move any pieces, but I also think that if a team makes an offer Stan Bowman cannot refuse, then no one is safe from the deadline just yet.