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 Colorado: Jack Johnson
To Chicago: Andreas Englund

Davidson did Johnson a solid by dealing him back to Colorado, where he won the Cup the prior spring. The 6’3” defensive-minded Englund played 11 games in Chicago, got into one notable fight with Marcus Foligno, and promptly left town, signing with Los Angeles on July 1.

To Toronto: Jake McCabe (50% retained), Sam Lafferty, 2024 conditional fifth-round pick, 2025 conditional fifth-round pick
To Chicago: Joey Anderson, Pavel Gogolev, 2025 top 10 protected first-round pick, 2026 second-round pick

This was Davidson’s biggest trade in terms of return.

McCabe was solid in his nearly two-year tenure with the Blackhawks. His contract term and relatively low cap number made him a desirable trade target for contenders.

Lafferty revitalized his career in Chicago and endeared himself to fans with his speed and physicality. Joey Anderson fits coach Luke Richardson’s play style and has likely earned himself another contract in Chicago after this season, while Gogolev suited up in just one game for Rockford. It remains to be seen what the first and second-round picks will turn into, but Davidson’s draft history so far has been promising.

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.