Potential Trade Targets (2025 edition)

[ColbyChaos]

I'm not trying to get rid of Allan. But they have a surplus of young defensemen and a dearth of young true centers. So it's more about taking an opportunity to improve the team than get rid of Allan. You have to give up something of value to get something of value.

Just like how we traded Jokiharju because we had Ian Mitchell, Beaudin, Boqvist, Murphy

Remember how that turned out?

 

[MHO]

Just like how we traded Jokiharju because we had Ian Mitchell, Beaudin, Boqvist, Murphy

Remember how that turned out?

So because it didn't work out once, we should never try it again?

Also at that time, Mitchell was still in college and Beaudin and Boqvist were playing in juniors. Holding your own in the AHL leads to a much stronger chance of success at the NHL level than producing in juniors.

 

[Hawkaholic]

I dunno... I was maybe (definitely) looking at this season through rose-colored glasses. I saw the additions of Teravainen, Bertuzzi, Craig Smith as being upgrades over guys like Tyler Johnson and Taylor Raddysh.

I guess I also expected Bedard to have more than 3 goals at the 21 game mark.

I dont think some people understood how bad the roster was last season, it was literally one of the worst rosters of the cap era. The roster isn't the worst of the cap era this year, but it's still really bad despite those additions/subtractions.

 

[Kevin Musto]

Just like how we traded Jokiharju because we had Ian Mitchell, Beaudin, Boqvist, Murphy

Remember how that turned out?

You realize Jokiharju sucks, right? He's a complete liability.

Boqvist hasn't stayed healthy.

Mitchell should be in the NHL as a 6/7.

None of them are lighting the world on fire. And there's not much separating them either. Acting like Jokiharju is the best of the bunch is a joke. He's Buffalo's worst defenseman.

Nicolas "Lidstrom" Beaudin is a total bust though.

 

[Giovi]

You realize Jokiharju sucks, right? He's a complete liability.

Boqvist hasn't stayed healthy.

Mitchell should be in the NHL as a 6/7.

None of them are lighting the world on fire. And there's not much separating them either. Acting like Jokiharju is the best of the bunch is a joke. He's Buffalo's worst defenseman.

Nicolas "Lidstrom" Beaudin is a total bust though.

If Mitchell was good enough to be a 6-7 in the NHL, he'd be a 6-7 in the NHL.

 

[Hawkaholic]

You realize Jokiharju sucks, right? He's a complete liability.

Boqvist hasn't stayed healthy.

Mitchell should be in the NHL as a 6/7.

None of them are lighting the world on fire. And there's not much separating them either. Acting like Jokiharju is the best of the bunch is a joke. He's Buffalo's worst defenseman.

Nicolas "Lidstrom" Beaudin is a total bust though.

Joker is clearly the best of the bunch of those prospects.

 

[Kevin Musto]

Joker is clearly the best of the bunch of those prospects.

He's really not. He's on the same level as a healthy Boqvist.

And I'd take Mitchell over both of them.

 

[Callidusblackhawk]

He's really not. He's on the same level as a healthy Boqvist.

And I'd take Mitchell over both of them.

Mitchell hasn't played an NHL game since November of last year and he's 25. He's a bust barring an absolute miracle.

 

[Cold Steel on Ice]

I would inquire about Jiricek from Columbus.Rh d maybe offer KK for him.

 

[RememberTheRoar]

You realize Jokiharju sucks, right? He's a complete liability.

Boqvist hasn't stayed healthy.

Mitchell should be in the NHL as a 6/7.

None of them are lighting the world on fire. And there's not much separating them either. Acting like Jokiharju is the best of the bunch is a joke. He's Buffalo's worst defenseman.

Nicolas "Lidstrom" Beaudin is a total bust though.

I think the broader point is we’ve seen the defensive pool look good until it didn’t. Don’t start counting these chickens and moving guys who are already winning jobs. We have no clue if/when the ahl and college guys will be ready.

Anyone outside of levshunov could easily turn into a bust or top out as a bottom pair. (Obviously could also happen to lev, but let’s not think about that nightmare scenario)

 

[Darkstar]

He's really not. He's on the same level as a healthy Boqvist.

And I'd take Mitchell over both of them.

Kind of hard to take you seriously at this point. Mitchell needs to go to Europe and be generational over there.

 

[Kevin Musto]

I think the broader point is we’ve seen the defensive pool look good until it didn’t. Don’t start counting these chickens and moving guys who are already winning jobs. We have no clue if/when the ahl and college guys will be ready.

Anyone outside of levshunov could easily turn into a bust or top out as a bottom pair. (Obviously could also happen to lev, but let’s not think about that nightmare scenario)

I wouldn't bet the house on a single D prospect in the system right now.

Actually, other than Frank, I wouldn't bet on any Hawks prospect at all.

 

[Pez68]

Here are 3 guys (among others) I would not trade:

Korchinski: Part of the the reason why the Hawks never have the puck is that none of their defensemen have any poise with the puck under pressure nor can they make a breakout pass. KK is probably never going to be Duncan Keith back there but he's getting better down in Rockford and I'm pretty sure that whenever he comes back up, you'll notice that the Blackhawks will have the puck more. He's the closest thing we have to Cale Makar and the only D we have with that profile.

Del Mastro: One of the underrated and underappreciated elements of the dynasty years was Seabrook's presence in the locker room and his ability to be the bad cop to keep guys in line. None of the prospects seem to have that personality, granted I don't hang out with them in the locker room, but Colton Dach was saying on the CHGO podcast that EDM has been that guy down there. He hasn't put up as many points as he did last year but I think a lot of that is Korchinski and Levshunov getting all the power play time. Plus he had consistency with his partner playing with Allan all of last season and this season, he's constantly getting moved up and down the lineup to accommodate the other prospects and roster moves. If Bedard is gonna wear the C at some point, this guy might just be wearing an A.

Savoie: God I love a pest. Another underappreciated guy in the dynasty was Dave Bolland and Savoie may not be as skilled but he makes up for it with grit. That said, I think he's better than Andrew Shaw and we all remember what he did for the team. I don't know if they have another guy like that in the system and I can't wait until he comes up.

Having said that, 3 guys I would trade:

Allan/Kaiser: Well there are only 3 spots on the left and I envision Vlasic, Korchinski, and Del Mastro occupying them so these guys, to me, would be available. They probably won't get a ton of value on their own but maybe as a sweetener with others that would be sold at the deadline.

Lardis: Yeah he's been scoring but I don't see much else to his game. So if he doesn't score in the NHL, I don't know what kind of role he's going to play. I'm not saying they should trade him as they don't have a ton of guys who can score, but I see him as a 'sell-high' candidate.

So here might be an idea:

To Colorado:
Mrazek (retained)
One of Allan or Kaiser
Lardis

To Chicago
Georgiev
Ritchie

I'd throw in a draft pick on either side to even it out if I'm too far off on how I value guys.

Lol....

 

[ello]

Yea I know we think that OUR high end picks are more likely than not to pan out and that a guy like Lev went high for a reason and is going to contribute in the NHL sooner rather than later, but the whole situation reminds me a lot of Simon Nemec.

"Jack of all trades" "well-rounded" RHD who put up strong stats in his draft year but lacks specific superstar qualities. D+3 and still isn't an NHL regular.

 

[RememberTheRoar]

Yea I know we think that OUR high end picks are more likely than not to pan out and that a guy like Lev went high for a reason and is going to contribute in the NHL sooner rather than later, but the whole situation reminds me a lot of Simon Nemec.

"Jack of all trades" "well-rounded" RHD who put up strong stats in his draft year but lacks specific superstar qualities. D+3 and still isn't an NHL regular.

Ya, I just take that as a lesson in not counting your chickens before they hatch. I hope/don’t think levshunov will pan out like nemec.

 

[MHO]

Lol....

You're welcome to disagree with me. I'd love to know why.

 

[MHO]

I think the broader point is we’ve seen the defensive pool look good until it didn’t. Don’t start counting these chickens and moving guys who are already winning jobs. We have no clue if/when the ahl and college guys will be ready.

Anyone outside of levshunov could easily turn into a bust or top out as a bottom pair. (Obviously could also happen to lev, but let’s not think about that nightmare scenario)

Totally get it. But you also have to consider who we would get in return if we trade one of these guys. Yeah Alex Nylander turned into nothing but if we can cash one of them in for a top 6 center, who cares if the guy ends up being good on another team.

 

[Hawkaholic]

He's really not. He's on the same level as a healthy Boqvist.

And I'd take Mitchell over both of them.

He really is.

 

[u2wojo]

I would inquire about Jiricek from Columbus.Rh d maybe offer KK for him.

Jiricek is to Czech D men what Dach is to Canadian forwards...overhyped and oft injured. Trading a LHD prospect for a RHD prospect when we have Rinzel and Lev in the pipeline and Jones here another 5 years makes little sense.

 

[giza]

Look, any prospect should be open game if the right trade comes along, but I like the thought of EDM and Allan as a 3rd pairing......they got some physical moxy that every team needs.

 

[MHO]

Look, any prospect should be open game if the right trade comes along, but I like the thought of EDM and Allan as a 3rd pairing......they got some physical moxy that every team needs.

Totally agree. Everything should be on the table for the right price. But there are certain guys, at similar perceived value to the outside, I'd trade before others. Wyatt Kaiser is more valuable to the NHL team right now than Ethan Del Mastro and may end up being a better player long term. But I would keep Del Mastro over him because of his intangibles that I don't see from other guys.

I like Del Mastro on the bottom pair of the left side if he is behind Vlasic and Korchinski than Kaiser.

 

[Blackhawkswincup]

Joker is clearly the best of the bunch of those prospects.

He's really not. He's on the same level as a healthy Boqvist.

And I'd take Mitchell over both of them.

Joker is closing in on 400 NHL games and is an established 2nd pairing NHL RD

Comparing him to Boqvist and claiming he is not good or proven NHL talent at this point is laughable

If you told an NHL GM/Scouts that the guy they drafted 29th overall would be at this point in career, what Joker is they would be ecstatic... Hawks blew it because our idiot GM's coaching hire was a moron, and he appeased his irrational dislike for our two youngest NHL defenders and most promising guys to come thru system in years (Joker + Forsling). Also, Bowman seemed to lose interest in both after it became clear Q liked them for some reason despite Bowman ultimately winning his power struggle with Q

As for your Mitchell nonsense I know it has to be gimmick/bit at this point but if its not give it up (Well give it up even if its a bit)

I loved the talent of Yakubov but he was a complete bust. I gave up on him by end of 2006 as prospect. You don't see me trying to talk him up as anything but bust in 2024

Your boy Ian is a bust, give it up