Predicting the Blackhawks' trade deadline

We are one week away from the National Hockey League’s trade deadline. A lot can happen between now and 2 pm CT on Friday, March 6. However, this year’s deadline likely won’t have the fireworks we’ve seen in the past.

Many of the big names who might have been moved at the trade deadline are already off the market. A number of players who entered the season on expiring contracts have already re-signed with their teams. Plus, we’ve already seen quite a few trades this season. Quinn Hughes, Stuart Skinner, Phillip Danault, Mason Marchment, Rasmus Andersson, and Artemi Panarin have been traded, taking away quite a bit of drama from deadline day.

The Chicago Blackhawks have six veteran players on expiring deals who could help a contending team. It’s unlikely that all of them get traded before next Friday, but I’ll try to predict what general manager Kyle Davidson gets done.

Connor Murphy – D

Connor Murphy might be the biggest trade chip Davidson has. Teams are always on the lookout for veteran, right-handed defensemen at the trade deadline. I broke down what his trade value might be a couple of weeks ago. After the Colorado Avalanche gave the Pittsburgh Penguins a second-round pick and Samuel Girard for Brett Kulak earlier this week, I don’t think getting a second-rounder for Murphy is out of the question. If the Blackhawks retain part of his salary, that would only increase the return.

So, where will Murphy end up? The Edmonton Oilers are looking for a defenseman and have been linked to Justin Faulk and Oliver Ekman-Larsson. Those guys are more offensive-minded than Murphy, so he might not fit the bill for the Oilers. However, Stan Bowman has traded for Murphy before, so you can’t rule it out.

Murphy might be a team’s Plan B or C, where they swing back around on if they miss out on guys like Faulk, Ekman-Larsson, Luke Schenn, Tyler Myers, or Rasmus Ristolainen. The Florida Panthers feel like a perfect fit, but it’s unclear whether they will be adding at the deadline or start to shut some veterans down. What they do over their next two games could go a long way in what general manager Bill Zito ultimately does. Other teams reportedly looking for defensemen are the Boston Bruins, Buffalo Sabres, Detroit Red Wings, New York Islanders, and Utah Mammoth.

Ultimately, I think Murphy does get moved. While he’s been a warrior for this franchise, he’s earned a shot at playing in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. I predict that he will end up with the Sabres for their stretch run and return to the postseason.

Jason Dickinson – F

A veteran center who can skate, play solid defense, kill penalties, and win faceoffs is a valuable trade piece at the deadline. Jason Dickinson fits that bill, and Davidson should be getting a lot of calls on him. Like Murphy, he’s likely not a top option for many teams, but as more players come off the board, the more sought out he will become.

Dickinson is the perfect trade deadline acquisition for a team serious about making a deep playoff run. He’s a true professional who will fit seamlessly into any new locker room and take on any role that is asked of him.

There are plenty of possible landing spots for Dickinson, including the Anaheim Ducks, Carolina Hurricanes, Colorado Avalanche, Dallas Stars, Oilers, Tampa Bay Lightning, and Washington Capitals. Coaches like Rod Brind’Amour and Jon Cooper would love to have Dickinson in their lineups because they would know exactly how to use him. However, I predict he will return to where his NHL career started and will be wearing a green Stars jersey in the next few days.

Ilya Mikheyev – F

Like Dickinson, Ilya Mikheyev’s skill set is exactly what contending teams are looking for. Teams loaded up top with dynamic offensive stars, like the Avalanche, Oilers, and Montreal Canadiens, would love to add Mikheyev to their rosters. His speed, defensive prowess, and elite penalty-killing ability are highly sought after this time of year.

While Mikheyev is likely to fetch a third-round pick or mid-level prospect on the market, I think he is more valuable to the team than that. Even though Scott Powers has reported that the chances of an extension are becoming slim, I predict it will be the ultimate outcome.

Mikeheyev personifies Jeff Blashill’s philosophy of good defensive habits leading to offensive chances. He fits the Davidson’s vision of how he wants the Blackhawks to play, with a fast north/south game. Plus, having a veteran who speaks Russian in the room will be beneficial to Artyom Levshunov and Roman Kantserov next season. The Blackhawks can pay him a little more than most teams can to stick around, and I think that’s what happens.

Nick Foligno – F

All signs are pointing to this being Nick Foligno’s final NHL season. Davidson does not want to trade his captain, but if Foligno wants to chase one last shot at a Stanley Cup, I’m sure he’d oblige. I don’t think he will ask for just any trade; it will have to be a perfect situation for him to walk away from the young core he’s bonded with.

There are only three teams I could see Foligno agreeing to join. If the Columbus Blue Jackets want to bring back their former captain to help push for a playoff spot, he could say yes. The Bruins are another team I could see him returning to. However, if the Minnesota Wild come calling, that might get it done. The chance to make a deep playoff run with his brother could be too good to refuse. Ultimately, I think Foligno plays out the season with the Blackhawks.

Matt Grzelcyk – D & Sam Lafferty - F

Matt Grzelcyk and Sam Lafferty are not players who won’t garner much attention at the deadline, but could be moved before the clock strikes 2 pm. Grzelcyk has been a really good fit with the Blackhawks after being brought in on a PTO before training camp. He’s a candidate to be brought back next season, as the Blackhawks will need at least one veteran defender on the back end.

Lafferty has essentially been a healthy scratch all season. He’s been a trooper and has played hard when he’s dressed. Davidson might look to reward him for his patience by moving him to a team that will play him down the stretch. He could easily fill a penalty kill, fourth-line role for a team looking to add some depth.

Unexpected Moves?

Does Davidson have any tricks up his sleeve over the next seven days? He says he’s always looking to improve his team via trades, so he could pull off something that nobody saw coming. He’s not going to make a move for a rental player, but if a young player who needs a change of scenery is available for the right price, maybe something happens.

Younger players who will be restricted free agents could be an alluring target. Guys like Brad Lambert (Winnipeg Jets), Alexis Lafreniere (New York Rangers), Brennan Othmann (Rangers), Nick Robertson (Maple Leafs), and Shane Wright (Seattle Kraken) come to mind. Now, it takes two teams to make a trade, and players like that usually get moved at the draft rather than at the deadline. Davidson has a lot of draft picks and prospects to dangle for a player who can be inserted directly into the NHL lineup and stay there for years to come.

One last thing, I wouldn’t be surprised to see Davidson go for draft picks further down the road. They already have nine picks in 2026, including five in the first two rounds. That could mean you see the Blackhawks acquire picks in 2027 and 2028 to spread out the influx of young players. No matter what happens over the next week, we’ll have it all covered for you.