Revisiting Chicago Blackhawks GM Kyle Davidson's Moves During the 2023 Trade Deadline

Before the season, many speculated Jason Dickinson, Nick Foligno, and Petr Mrázek would be on new teams after the 2024 Trade Deadline. Kyle Davidson squashed those rumors when he inked the trio to two-year contract extensions in January.

This now leaves him with only Tyler Johnson and Colin Blackwell as pending unrestricted free agents likely to generate a trade market on March 8. They are the type of bottom-six contributors Stanley Cup contenders love to add late in the season, but neither will bring much of a return for the Blackhawks.

With Davidson set for a quiet Deadline, let’s take a look at last season’s which included nine deals and the departure of a legend.

To Ottawa: Future Considerations
To Chicago: Nikita Zaitsev, 2023 second-round pick (Roman Kantserov), 2026 fourth-round pick

When a general manager is only giving up “future considerations”, it’s hard to lose a deal. The Senators were looking to free up cap space to add Jakob Chychrun and paid the Hawks two draft picks in exchange for taking on Zaitsev and his $4.5 million cap hit. Zaitsev has played 44 games for Chicago and notched 10 points as a bottom-pair defenseman.

The real value in this trade is derived from the draft capital. Kantserov has posted a respectable 15 points in 51 KHL games as a rookie, and the 2026 fourth-rounder could turn into an NHL player down the line.

To Anaheim: Josiah Slavin
To Chicago: Hunter Drew

The Hawks hoped Josiah Slavin, the younger brother of Hurricanes stud defenseman Jaccob Slavin, could potentially turn into a depth forward for the big club after they signed him in 2021 and gave him 15 NHL games the following season. His progression stalled in Rockford, so they flipped him to Anaheim for Hunter Drew. Drew played 16 scoreless games for Rockford and now plays for the Coyotes’ AHL affiliate in Tucson.

To New York Rangers: Patrick Kane, Cooper Zech
To Chicago: Vili Saarijärvi (from Arizona), Andy Welinski, 2023 second-round pick (Martin Misiak), 2025 fourth-round pick

February 28, 2023, was a sad day in Chicago as the team moved on from Patrick Kane. While it was difficult to say goodbye to a three-time Cup champion and a Calder, Conn Smythe, and Hart Trophy winner (among other accolades), it was time, and Kane wanted another run at the Cup.

Saarijärvi never played for the organization, and Welinski played 14 games for Rockford. Misiak has posted 36 points in 47 games for Erie in the OHL this season and represented Slovakia in the past three World Junior Championships.

To Buffalo: Future Considerations
To Chicago: Anders Bjork

A former star at the University of Notre Dame, Bjork needed a change of scenery. He tallied a respectable eight points in 13 games on a depleted Hawks team after his arrival. He has played solely in Rockford this season.

To Anaheim: Dylan Sikura
To Chicago: Maxim Golod

Another prolific NCAA scorer, Sikura was on his second tour of duty in the Blackhawks organization when he was dealt to Anaheim and finished his season with their AHL affiliate. Golod played mostly in the ECHL after this trade and now plies his trade in Europe.

To Dallas: Max Domi, Dylan Wells
To Chicago: Anton Khudobin, 2025 second-round pick

Domi made the most of his top-six opportunity in a Hawks sweater to the tune of 49 points in 60 games. Following his departure from the Windy City, he spotted 13 points in 19 playoff games for Dallas and then followed in his father’s footsteps, signing in Toronto.

Khudobin was a cap dump and surrendered six goals in his only start for the Blackhawks. Davidson did a nice job in this trade, turning a distressed asset in Domi into a quality draft pick.

To Los Angeles: Future Considerations
To Chicago: Austin Wagner

Wagner filled in as a bottom-six stopgap for the post-Trade Deadline Blackhawks, contributing two points in seven games. He now plays in Sweden’s top league, the SHL.

Overall, during a busy two week stretch, Davidson made a number of depth moves, acquired one first and four second-round picks, and pulled the trigger on a painful but necessary Kane trade – a decent bit of work for the young GM. This year’s Deadline he won’t be nearly as active, but Davidson has shown thus far he can be trusted to make rational moves in order to improve the Blackhawks’ future.

Note: trade and contract information for this article were found on capfriendly.com.