3 veteran players the Chicago Blackhawks could trade during the season
The standards might have been raised in the offseason for the Chicago Blackhawks, but that does not mean they will make the playoffs this season.
Adding Tyler Bertuzzi and Teuvo Teravainen improves the top six, but the team is still probably another offseason away from clinching a playoff spot. It is more realistic to expect the Hawks to stop contending for the top spot in the Tankathon.com/NHL standings than it is for them to contend for a Central Division title.
If Connor Bedard raises his game to Hart Trophy-winning levels, then there is a chance to grab a wild card spot. Even if he plays superhero hockey, Bedard still needs more elite help. The potential for that will likely come from guys like Frank Nazar and Oliver Moore who still require some time to develop their games.
That is why the Blackhawks will likely be sellers at the trade deadline this season.
The Blackhawks have some assets to move. However, it depends on how healthy those players are when it comes time to make deals.
Taylor Hall
A knee injury limited Hall to just 10 games last season. When healthy, he is still a productive offensive player. He may not be the Hart Trophy-winning talent he was in 2018, but he can still help a contender’s top three lines.
He is in the final year of his deal making $6 million. It is unlikely the Blackhawks will bring him back after this season. It would make sense to move him at some point this season to make sure the club gets a future asset back.
Andreas Athanasiou
If he is healthy, he can provide speed to any contender. Availability has been a problem for Athanasiou.
He played in just 28 games last season and in 2021-2022. Even if he is healthy, there might not be much of a trade market. He skated in 81 games in 2022-2023 for the Hawks and was productive. Somehow, the team was unable to find much value on the trade market for him at the deadline.
Instead, they held onto him and extended him for two more seasons. That deal expires after this season. With plenty of forward options in the prospect pool, getting him off the team should open up a spot for the younger, just as fast skaters coming up.
Alec Martinez
Contenders are always looking for veteran blue-liners before a cup run. The only concern is if Martinez has enough left in the tank that a team will give back a decent asset.
Martinez is also on the roster to make it harder for guys like Wyatt Kaiser, Ethan Del Mastro, Isaak Phillips, and Artyom Levshunov to make the NHL roster out of camp.
At some point, those guys will earn some NHL ice time, so that is another reason Martinez should be moved off the roster by the deadline.
