3 sound moves the Blackhawks should make at the trade deadline

Toss Colin Blackwell to a team looking for insurance on the lower lines

Colin Blackwell is another versatile player on this rebuilding Chicago Blackhawks team who will probably find himself playing elsewhere next season. 

Like Ryan Donato, it’s tough to expect the Blackhawks to get too much in the way of compensation for a journeyman who has seen time in just 26 games this year. But once again, it’s all about clearing cap space and at least attaining another draft pick in return, which is more than what Chicago would get if they let him walk in free agency. 

Also like Donato, defense is this versatile player’s game, and it’s something we have seen with a respectable 29 hits and 14 takeaways, but that’s not all Blackwell offers. Despite playing for such a poor Blackhawks team this season that has allowed 199 goals this season, their on-ice save percentage with Blackwell in the game at even strength is an incredible 92.1. Sure, he’s only played in 26 contests, but it’s still an overall impressive number. 

You can say the same for the team’s save percentage with him on the ice at 5-on-5, which rests at 91.9. Therefore, if the Blackhawks send him to a team looking for a good defensive forward, they may get a better-than-anticipated return.

(Statistics provided by Hockey-Reference as of February 20th)