One shocking trade the Chicago Blackhawks could make with the Flyers

Young talent can come from outside a rebuilding organization, and for the Chicago Blackhawks, there are a few places they can search. The Anaheim Ducks could move Trevor Zegras and a potential trade for the talented center is something I’ve covered previously. Zegras isn’t the only player who could be on the shortlist, as there are a few others who Davidson could bring to the Windy City and immediately make the team significantly better than they were last season.  

But there is another young player who could make some noise in the trade market this summer, and that is making noise. It’s Joel Farabee, someone whose name in the rumor mill has drawn a lot of polarizing reactions as of late. But if the Blackhawks were interested in trading for a player like Trevor Zegras, for example, and missed out, Farabee would make one interesting consolation. 

Finishing the 2023-24 season with 50 points, which would have ranked behind only Connor Bedard and Philipp Kurashev, Farabee’s 22 goals would have tied Bedard and Jason Dickinson for No. 1 on the team. He’s yet another young player in the rumor mill who would find himself on the top-six with the Hawks, and one who would bring an offensive-heavy game. 

Hypothetical Blackhawks trade for Joel Farabee would still be a shocker

While bringing in a talent of Joel Farabee’s caliber would make a ton of sense, it would also factor in as quite the shocker. One reason is that with the Flyers getting younger, someone like Farabee fits what the team is trying to do for the near future - get young and come up with a core group of players who can stick together and build on the success they had last year. 

Consistency issues, however, could force general manager Daniel Briere’s hand, meaning he may believe the Flyers are better off without the up-and-down Farabee. Note that he was on pace for between 68 and 69 points following the Flyers first 48 games, only to score just five goals and put up 10 points overall in the final 34 contests, adjusted to just 24 points across 82 games. 

Farabee may be one of those players who fare better with elite-caliber talent around him, especially as a winger, and it’s something that would benefit him in a place like Chicago alongside Connor Bedard. Or at least that will be the case in time. Right now, I would project Farabee returning to the Flyers, but Kyle Davidson has enough in potential compensation to make a trade if he liked the 24-year-old enough to convince Briere to work out a deal. 

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