5 Blackhawks Players Who Could Be Moved At The Trade Deadline

The Blackhawks should be sellers at the trade deadline. Here are some players they should consider dealing by the deadline.

1) Ryan Donato

We are starting controversially with this one... I know that Ryan Donato has had a wonderful season which has endeared him to many fans in the city. However, two questions must be asked about Donato: First, is this current half-point per game pace sustainable? Second, is Donato a piece that will be here when the Hawks are competitive again?

The answer to question one is likely a no. He has never been a half-point-per-game player before (his best season was 2021-2022 when he put up 31 points in 74 games) and it isn't likely that he will become that type of player going forward.

As for question two, I could actually argue that Donato is the type of player you use to help you build to the next level of success.

I certainly wouldn't be opposed to bringing him back, but due to how well he has played this season, there is no doubt he will expect a significant raise.

So, if you are in the camp of wanting to resign Donato (a reasonable wish) you shouldn't be shocked that he will be asking for somewhere in the neighborhood of $3.5 to $4.5 million annually.

Therefore, I think trading a player at the peak of their value has some wisdom. I mean, I was somewhat interested in trading Philip Kurashev after last season when he broke out, and it is now obvious that that would have been the right move.

Hindsight is always 20/20, but if Donato is re-signed to big money and then his production reverts to the average of his career, fans will be clamoring to move him... when he no longer has much trade value. Now may be the time for the Hawks to move him.