Blackhawks hit one out of the park in deal with Oilers

The Chicago Blackhawks did precisely what they should have on Wednesday night. They preyed on the desperation in Edmonton by absolutely fleecing the Oilers.

The two clubs agreed on a deal that sent impending UFA Jason Dickinson to the Oilers, along with Colton Dach, in exchange for Andrew Mangiapane and a conditional 2027 first-round pick.

The deal also involved 50% retention on Dickinson’s cap hit.

Now, this deal was more about Mangiapane than Dickinson. It wasn’t that the Oilers wanted Dickinson necessarily. It was that Edmonton wanted to get rid of Mangiapane. And to do that, they paid a first-round pick.

Talk about hitting one out of the park.

The Blackhawks get a serviceable forward who might still have some gas in the tank, while landing a highly valuable draft pick. While the Blackhawks are evidently emerging from the rebuild, they’ll be doing so with numerous assets. The Hawks have two first-rounders in the 2026 NHL Draft and two in 2027.

That adds to the three second-rounders in 2026, two in 2027, and two in 2028. That’s not nothing and certainly valuable down the line.

It’s worth pointing out that the first-round pick is top-12 protected. That’s something to keep an eye on. This season could be the Oilers’ last hurrah. It might be their final chance to win a Stanley Cup with this core. If they can’t pull it off, a regression like the one the Florida Panthers have seen could be on the horizon.

In the worst of cases, that 2027 pick could shift to 2028, making it even more valuable.

Blackhawks shed two contracts and open up roster spots

As for the guys on the way out, the Blackhawks were extremely savvy in getting the way they did for them. Dickinson wasn’t worth a first-round pick, to be sure. In fact, even a 1-for-1 deal for Mangiapane might have been sufficient in other circumstances.

But let’s assume that part of this deal was Dickinson-for-Mangiapane. The other part of the deal was sending Dach over in the deal. Dach, a former second-rounder from the 2021 NHL Draft, has been a bit of a bust. In 53 games this season, he has three goals and nine points.

That’s not bad, but he’ll clearly be overpassed by other prospects soon. Anton Frondell is on the way. Nick Lardis could be pushing for some playing time as well. That’s why having another roster spot open would make sense for the Blackhawks.

Additionally, there’s one other thing to consider. Mangiapane won’t automatically get into the Blackhawks’ lineup. As we speak, he’s in the AHL. As such, the 29-year-old has landed on the Blackhawks’ roster as a non-roster forward.

That’s important to note. The Blackhawks could just keep him buried in the AHL for now. But Mangiapane wouldn’t have waived his no-trade clause to remain in the AHL with Chicago. So, it’s likely the Blackhawks will give him a chance to see what he can do. It might not be this season, but then again, what do the Blackhawks have to lose?

From Chicago’s perspective, Wednesday’s trade was about clearing roster spots for incoming talent. If a guy like Mangiapane can prove he still has something to offer, he’ll get a shot. Otherwise, the Blackhawks would be more than willing to keep his cap hit in the AHL.

With Shea Weber’s contract officially coming off the books this summer, the Blackhawks may need a little extra help in getting to the cap floor. Mangiapane’s contract will certainly help in achieving that aim.