What's the Deal? (chicago)

It was a risk to swap former 1st rounders for one another. Nylander had a questionable attitude when he was in the Sabres organization as he displayed a low compete level and sense of entitlement that carried over to the Blackhawks organization.

Jokiharju's attitude was also questioned. When he was demoted to the AHL, he pouted and mailed it in during his first stretch of games in Rockford. He additionally felt that he didn't need to work on his defense which was something management asked of him.

Bowman was aiming to add a young top 6 talent -- which the Hawks were devoid of -- by trading from a place of strength -- which was a deeper pool of D prospects. This wasn't necessarily an awful strategy. The emergence of Ian Mitchell also made Jokiharju perceivedly expendable.

Shipping out Nylander before he had a chance to prove that he can not only rebound from a knee surgery that knocked him out of the entirety of last season but also extrapolate an improved compete level from the AHL to the NHL seems to be doubling down on the lamentable 2019 trade.

As Deal or No Deal game show host Howie Mandel would say, "Did interim general manager Kyle Davidson make a good deal or a bad deal?" Nylander was likely on the way out anyway at some point between now and the summer but was Sam Lafferty really the best asset on the trade table?

With the Hawks needing to restock the pipeline with futures -- whether draft picks and/or prospects -- in order to gain impact players who can play in the top 6 up front, in the top 4 in the back, and in the starter role in net, why add someone who won't be with the team next season?

To help contextualize the rationale for the Nylander-Lafferty trade, here are a few pieces of information to know:

* According to Ben Pope from the Chicago-Sun Times, Nylander never explicitly requested to be traded but did advocate for himself to get NHL playing time.

* Additionally, Pope mentioned that the Hawks weren't able to find a team who wanted to trade for Nylander until the Penguins inquired and consummated yesterday's transaction.

* Then according to Charlie Roumeliotis from NBC Sports Chicago, adding a players with some NHL tread on their tires allows for youngsters to develop more in the minors.

* And various NHL and Blackhawks news sites have reported for weeks that Chicago will be active in the trade market as sellers to recoup draft capital and prospects with viable NHL projectability.

So with that last point in mind, the Hawks haven't necessarily missed the boat with gaining picks and prospects after trading Nylander as well as Chad Krys for borderline NHLers in Lafferty and Kurtis Gabriel. The Hawks may actually be waiting for bigger boats to cruise into their port.

A 1st round pick is conceivable as a return for Marc-Andre Fleury. Secondly, assuming he waives his NMC, Patrick Kane would retrieve at least one 1st rounder plus high-end prospects. Salary retention by the Hawks would sweeten the pot for either a Fleury and/or Kane trade.

If he also is open to a trade, Jonathan Toews could garner a pick in the 1st to 3rd range if the deal is structured well. Dominik Kubalik and Dylan Strome could each net a 2nd or 3rd rounder if a contender is desperate to add a skilled top 9 forward with NHL experience.

Then there are veterans like Calvin de Haan, Ryan Carpenter, Brett Connolly, and Tyler Johnson who could attract interest from contenders but realistically for 4th rounders or later. Prospects like Krys could also be part of minor deals that snag picks or other prospects.

Youth Movement Implications

After the free agency period and summer trade winds died down this past offseason, I was of the mindset that the Blackhawks weren't canning the youth movement but were instead kicking the can down the road a year or so while graduating prospects to the NHL incrementally, not in a deluge.

By bringing aboard the experience of Seth Jones, Jake McCabe, Jujhar Khaira, Tyler Johnson, and Fleury plus adding youngsters with some NHL proficiency in Riley Stillman and Caleb Jones, the youth corps could marinate at a more appropriate level and pace with some cups of coffee.

For example, if MacKenzie Entwistle and Josiah Slavin are up with the big club but only one of them would dress for a game, then it makes sense that one or both of them gets ice time in all situations playing a primary role in Rockford instead of idling as a healthy scratch.

The same could be said about Mike Hardman and Reese Johnson at forward. Then on D, this same logic applies to Mitchell, Wyatt Kalynuk, Nicolas Beaudin, Isaak Phillips, and Alec Regula -- all who have been recalled to the Hawks at least once this season. Jakub Galvas hasn't had a cameo yet.

Next season, a spot or two opens up on the blueline with de Haan and likely Erik Gustafsson vacated. Mitchell and possibly Kalynuk step in full time. With Fleury on another team or maybe even retired, Arvid Soderblom could imaginably ascend to the NHL to back up or replace Kevin Lankinen.

Then in the forward ranks, Entwistle and Slavin could be fixtures on the 4th line with Reese Johnson and Hardman on reserve unless Khaira also gets traded. Also, Lukas Reichel is almost for certain to earn a spot for 2022-23 in the top 9 and feasibly on a scoring line.

Not Just Numbers

Consider that before Bowman's departure, Davidson was one of a trio of assistant general managers and was specifically tasked with crunching the numbers especially the salary cap. The Hawks also added CapFriendly founder Dominik Zrim to the payroll as hockey strategy manager.

When adding new players to the fold, decisions need to go beyond numbers. Cap compliance is required, of course, but team dynamics and player synergies are also critical components. While they are on affordable expiring contracts, the Hawks really don't need Gabriel or Lafferty.

The rhyme and reason may not make sense now but as long as there is a detailed and well thought-out blueprint of how to shape the team for the immediate and long-term future, then having Gabriel and Lafferty -- instead of new futures to convert to usable personnel -- is acceptable.

Part of the plan should be forging a team identity, defining a clear organizational direction, and identifying a nucleus to build upon to be the ones to lead the charge toward becoming perennial Cup contenders again. The Nylander-Lafferty trade may just be vital scaffolding.

Who is Sam Lafferty?

Here are a few notes on what the Hawks are getting in Lafferty:

* Roumeliotis shared this quote from an NHL scout: "Hardworking role player. Can play in the middle or wing. Above average size and plus skating. Competitive and provides energy."

* And here's a quote from another scout on Lafferty as shared by Scott Powers from the Athletic Chicago: "He's a bottom-6 guy that when he plays fast and heavy can be effective. He's good on the PK. He's a role player that I thought might put up numbers with a couple talented linemates, but he hasn't done that. A change of scenery should do him good."

Based on these testimonials and on the limited scouting reports I've read on him, Lafferty is a speedy energy forward who brings the grit, physicality, and mean streak to the rink. The fact that he can play the PK shows that he has a decent defensive pulse. Offense is limited.

Lafferty -- who will wear jersey #24 -- has already reported to Glendale to join his new team on the road trip starting against the Coyotes tonight. Expect him to be with at least Khaira on the 4th line with a rotation of Carpenter and Entwistle. Gabriel, too, if recalled.

--

Next Game @ Coyotes

--

Schedule Updates

In February, the Blackhawks play only a hat trick of home games due to what was supposed to be the Olympic break but it would again be expected that a few of the previously postponed games get slotted in during this February 3-24 time frame where the current schedule is blank.

--

Roster Updates

Powers from the Athletic Chicago said this about why Beaudin is on the taxi squad: "It sounds like the Blackhawks want to shuffle who is on the taxi squad and not have anyone not playing games for too long." With that in mind, there could be a rotation of the young D in Rockford.

--

See you on the boards!

Show Comments
Loading...
Loading...
0
Show comments for this article