Three Potential Trade Candidates for the Chicago Blackhawks

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The Blackhawks have struggled this season both offensively and defensively, averaging 2.13 goals per game, on a roster filled with young and aging talent.

The Blackhawks are currently 10-15-2 and the Blackhawks have struggled to consistently win games since King took over. Colliton is partially responsible for this hole left by him prior to his firing, when the team's record was 1-9-2.

In the end, a win is a win and a loss is a loss, but players come in with high expectations and expect to build a winning culture. Toews and Kane are seen as future Hall of Famers and are well respected around the league based on leadership and their overall success in the 2010 era. Players are attracted to that and that's why some veterans were intrigued about joining the Blackhawks with players such as Seth Jones.

Many noticeable struggles have been seen on the ice such as Toews' recent scoring drought, Strome's overall scoring and playmaking performance, Dach struggling in the faceoff circle and lack of scoring, and Kane's overall struggles.

The defense for the Hawks lacks consistency and scoring depth with the likes of Erik Gustafsson and many of the prospects and have created too many chances for the opposing team, while often leaving Fleury and Lankinen out to dry.

Many of the young players have struggled and have been rushed/not been given enough time to develop in the AHL and it's a partial factor to the team's struggles. It's time to move on from some veteran players and acquire some top draft picks and prospects in order to move quickly through this rebuild.

Toews and Kane aren't getting any younger and building a franchise around them and having them compete in the playoffs again is a must. Many of the previously acquired veterans on the Hawks deserve to play for a contending Stanley Cup playoff team.

Here are the three players I think the Blackhawks should part ways with before the trade deadline

Erik Gustafsson:

Chicago Blackhawks v Montreal Canadiens / Minas Panagiotakis/GettyImages

I think almost everyone agrees that the Blackhawks should part ways with Erik Gustafsson. Gustafsson was brought back on a league minimum 1 year deal by former disgraced GM Stan Bowman.

This signing was not taken lightly by the fanbase as the team was going in with high expectations prior to the season and his notable defensive struggles currently and in the past. Gustafsson has struggled mightly since his 60 point campaign during the 2018-2019 season.

Gustafsson went on a brief road trip around the league, making various stops in Calgary, Philadelphia, and Montreal, and never lived up to his potential for either of these teams. With Seth Jones, Connor Murphy, and Jake McCabe solidifying spots in the back end and with the prospect depth on defense for the Blackhawks, there is simply no room for Gustafsson on the roster, with the likes of prospects Nicolas Beaudin, Caleb Jones, and Wyatt Kalynuk.

Gustafsson will probably be seen as a #5 or #6 defenseman in the lineup with a playoff-contending team with some minor defensive or scoring woes from their back end.

Possible Trade Locations/Scenarios:

Winnipeg Jets - 5th or 6th round draft pick
Vegas Golden Knights - 5th or 6th round draft pick
San Jose Sharks - 5th or 6th round draft pick

Marc-Andre Fleury:

Marc-Andre Fleury previously secured his 500th career win Thursday night against the Montreal Canadiens. Fleury was acquired from the Vegas Golden Knights over the summer in a cap dump for a minor league player from the Rockford IceHogs.

This move was seen as skeptical based on Fleury's disappointment on being traded and rumors of possibly retiring, despite agreeing to the move in late July. Fleury was expected to perform with the outstanding talent he was expected to bring to the goaltending crease before the season started.

In his previous stints with the Penguins and the Golden Knights, Fleury played under a well-structured defense that didn't give up that many offensive opportunities. Fleury struggled to adapt to the Blackhawks' defensive structure and gave up an abysmal amount of goals and averaged a 4.63 GAA and .872 save percentage prior to Colliton's firing.

Fleury has performed exceptionally better since King took over and has two shutouts under his belt this season. The Blackhawks currently hold a 10-15-2 record and haven't established a winning consistency.

Fleury did not sign up to play for a rebuilding team and the team hasn't shown they're committed to a winning culture with their recent struggles. Fleury has played under a winning culture his entire career and deserves to play for a contending team that'll make a run for the cup and if the Blackhawks don't fix their offensive or defensive inconsistencies or get above a .500 record before the trade deadline, expect Fleury to be moved.

Possible Trade Locations/Scenarios:

Edmonton Oilers - 1st round draft pick, New York Rangers - 2nd round draft pick or decent prospect, Boston Bruins - 2nd round draft pick or decent prospect, Pittsburgh Penguins - 3rd round draft pick (if this is his last season, he deserves to retire as a member of the Pittsburgh Penguins)

Dylan Strome:

Pittsburgh Penguins v Chicago Blackhawks / Jonathan Daniel/GettyImages

Dylan Strome was brought in from the Arizona Coyotes for former Blackhawks forward Nick Schmaltz. Dylan Strome had a comfortable 2018-2019 campaign, scoring 17 goals and dishing out 51 points in 58 games.

Since then, Strome's point production has decreased mightly, from 38 points during the 2019-2020 season and 17 points last season. Strome has cracked the starting lineup a limited amount this season and has been moved up and down the lineup. Strome has struggled in the face off circle and has been lacking offensive consistencies.

Strome was seen talking to Derek King after practice in Montreal Thursday that might have been about his recent struggles and many of the prospects have been taking his place recently. Strome is on the final year of a $6 million dollar deal and could benefit from a trade with the long list in the Blackhawks center depth.

Adam Gaudette was claimed off waivers from Ottawa 2 weeks ago and the future center depth consists of Jonathan Toews, Kirby Dach, and Lukas Reichel. Strome could benefit as a second or third-line center for a team lacking center depth.

A potential one-for-one trade could work out, such as trading for Jake DeBrusk of the Boston Bruins, who was drafted the same year as Strome, signed a similar dollar amount contract and requested a trade a couple of weeks ago and could help with scoring depth on the wing. Finding Strome a new home should be a top priority for the Hawks, as he definitely deserves to play in a full-time role in the NHL.

Possible Trade Locations/Scenarios:

Boston Bruins - Jake DeBrusk or draft pick
Buffalo Sabres - Low-level prospect or a draft pick
Carolina Hurricanes - 2nd round draft pick and prospect
Montreal Canadiens - 3rd or 4th round draft pick
San Jose Sharks - 4th round pick.

Other possible trade candidates: Henrik Borgstrom, Calvin DeHaan or Dominik Kubalik

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The Blackhawks have struggled this season both offensively and defensively, averaging 2.13 goals per game, on a roster filled with young and aging talent.

Erik Gustafsson:

Possible Trade Locations/Scenarios:

Marc-Andre Fleury:

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