One blockbuster move that would weaken one of the Blackhawks division rivals

Could the ailing Blackhawks really be looking to make a trade with a division rival to bring in a solid winger to pair with Connor Bedard? Yeah, it sounds outrageous but that doesn’t mean there’s no substance to it. 

For one, the player in question has been good, but he’s yet to live to expectations with his current team. Inconsistent, but good enough to warrant the ‘blockbuster’ label if his team decided to move him. And since this particular team doesn’t figure to contend until at least next season, there’s a good chance they’ll also end up as sellers. 

Here’s the catch, however: This team is a rung above the Blackhawks, so ‘selling off’ this winger means they won’t figure that they’ll need him as part of their overall core in 2025-26 and beyond. Still, it would make sense for the Hawks to trade for him since, as mentioned, Connor Bedard still needs a reliable winger. 

If a division rival looks to move this winger, the Blackhawks should buy

So, who is the player in question? That would be none other than St. Louis Blues winger Jordan Kyrou, who is tied for first on the Blues with 47 points and he leads the team with 24 goals. Yeah, so on the surface, you might ask why in the world would general manager Doug Armstrong trade such a productive player?

As I said, Kyrou has hot and cold streaks, and more than the average player. You’re also seeing analysts out there like Nick Kypreos listing players like Kyrou on his trade board. Kypreos went on to say, “Armstrong wants to unload an $8 million salary and while it may be Buchnevich, Jordan Kyrou is out there, too. Making $8.125 million through 2030-31, Kyrou doesn't have any trade protection yet, but a full no-trade clause will be introduced in July.”

At this point, and especially if they manage to trade Seth Jones more than anyone else, the Hawks will more than be able to afford Jordan Kyrou. Yeah, he’ll come at quite the price tag, and there will be concerns about his consistency. But still, playing alongside Connor Bedard, Teuvo Teravainen, and Tyler Bertuzzi, to throw some names out there, will benefit Kyrou. 

Jordan Kyrou won’t turn around the Blackhawks, but…

Kyrou would be an epic building block, considering his age and, despite the fact he may disappear on the stat sheet at times, his productivity. Lyle Richardson of Bleacher Report listed the Blackhawks as one of five teams who could go after Kyrou, saying, “Bedard needs a fast-skating offensive linemate in his mid-to-late twenties in his playing prime who will remain so for at least the next five years. Jordan Kyrou could be a good candidate for that role, giving Chicago a lethal first-line scoring punch.”

Kyrou checks these boxes, and he’s also got experience playing for teams who are bland, at best in scoring. The Blues haven’t been as bad as the Blackhawks, but they’re still a modest 21st in the league with 164 goals prior to Thursday night’s slate of matchups. Still, adding Kyrou to the Blackhawks would give them a balanced scorer and playmaker, finally handing Bedard some much-needed help. 

Yes, there will be some risk involved here, especially since you’ll most likely see a top-tier prospect head to the Lou if this trade occurred. Still, it’s that whole ‘would you rather’ debate - Would you rather trade for a good, solid player who will help out your generational talent but you know what his ceiling is? Or, would you rather hang onto a high-end prospect who isn’t proven, but may boast a higher ceiling?

That’s a question general manager Kyle Davidson would have to answer if he sought to pick up the phone and start negotiating with Doug Armstrong.