The Florida Panthers Have Been Good To The Chicago Blackhawks

The Chicago Blackhawks and Florida Panthers are basically in two different leagues. Like the Tampa Bay Lightning, the Blackhawks have struggled against the Panthers in games this season, however, off the ice, the two have been great allies.

The Blackhawks and Panthers have been partners in a few deals this season. First, the Hawks added Vinnie Hinostroza in return for Brad Morrison. Morrison had no future in Chicago after being added in a trade with the Kings.

This move netted the Blackhawks a quality forward who has proven to be much more than just a one-year player. It really seems like the Blackhawks are going to re-sign Hinostroza in the future and make him a big part of this team. The Hawks have really embraced the Chicago native.

The second deal netted the Blackhawks Brett Connolly, Henrik Borgström, and Riley Stillman. Stillman has already re-signed with the team and should be a piece on the Hawks’ blue line for the next three years.

Considering he is so young there is still time for Stillman to develop into a better defenseman. He already has been great physically and physicality is something that can not be missed on this team.

The Blackhawks gave up very little for these future pieces of the team.

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Lucas Wallmark and Lucas Carlsson did not have futures with the Blackhawks. For Wallmark, he never seemed to fit into the lineup and ended up with the taxi squad and Rockford instead of the Hawks. Carlsson on the other hand has been a good defenseman but is expendable considering some of the other pieces on this team.

So, to simplify, the Blackhawks turned Wallmark, Carlsson, and Morrison into two solid bottom-six forwards, one promising prospect, and a young defenseman with a physical side. When the trade was first announced it seemed as though Borgstrom was the main piece. The former first-round pick definitely has some upside, but everyone else has also been great as well.

Back ten years ago the Hawks were a team that was stuck trading away talented players in return for basically nothing. It is cool that now Bowman and the Hawks can take advantage of some other teams the same way they were stuck giving away players like Teuvo and Hinostroza the first time.