Wanna blog? Start your own hockey blog with My HockeyBuzz. Register for free today!
 

Square One

May 17, 2022, 4:36 AM ET [177 Comments]
Theo Fox
Chicago Blackhawks Blogger • RSSArchiveCONTACT

Alex DeBrincat has come up in the rumor mill as a player who the Blackhawks should consider trading in order to acquire valuable assets like 1st round draft picks and top flight prospects so they can contribute to the rebuilding efforts of the organization.

However, is letting go of the youthful DeBrincat (24 years old) taking away a key cog that could fuel the rebuild? He's not hurting it by any stretch. The concern is whether DeBrincat would still be in his prime or exiting it when the Hawks are contenders again.

One way to decide upon keeping a player or parting ways with them is whether or not the Hawks are actually seeking a player like them to slot into the roster for years to come. General manager Kyle Davidson alluded to just that in recent comments about Kirby Dach.

More specifically, Davidson said that giving up on Dach now could be shooting the team in the foot because they would then want to pursue a player just like him. If that's the thinking, why let Dach go in the first place? Instead, just stay the course with his development.

Would fans who question whether Dach will ever live up to his draft billing be as concerned about his slow growth if he was a 2nd or 3rd rounder rather than a 3rd overall pick? Same with if he tops out as a great middle 6 center who produces at a 0.50 PPG clip versus being a franchise #1 center?

In a similar vein as Dach, would the Hawks just go back to square one by dealing away DeBrincat then later find themselves scouring the league or scraping the sides of the system's prospect barrel in an attempt to find the next DeBrincat with the same offensive prowess?

The Hawks need goal scoring and 40-goal scorers don't grow on trees. Besides Patrick Kane, the only player capable of 30 goals is Taylor Raddysh but even he isn't proven yet to reach that plateau. Dominik Kubalik hit it once but is a shadow of that version today.

In Kane's case, he's in trade talks as he would draw considerable interest from teams that would need to pony up a king's ransom of assets like multiple 1st rounders and coveted prospects. The Hawks would need to take back salary but that's worth it in the long run.

While he's getting older and isn't a player to build around anymore, Kane is still one of the best players in the world who can still undress defenses with regularity and make jaw-dropping plays that most mortals can only dream of making at any level of hockey.

Seth Jones is another player who the Hawks could try to pawn off to another team but would leave the team without an experienced blueliner who can play on the top pair. Many argue that he isn't a #1 D-man but pair him with a defensive stalwart and he could thrive.

A proportion of fans despise Jones on the team because of his 8-year $9.5M AAV contract and that he may have been had without coughing up any assets had the Hawks waited until this summer to sign him. Would his presence be more palatable if his terms were 2 years and $2M less?

Then there are the curious cases of captain Jonathan Toews and the resurgent Dylan Strome. On a contender with enviable forward depth, both may be hard pressed to be more than 2Cs with Toews possibly dipping to 3C status. So does that make them expendable?

It depends on who would replace them in house or via free agency or the trade market. Ideally, Dach and Lukas Reichel would be the new 1-2 punch down the middle for the future Hawks. Neither are there yet. Thus, keeping Toews and/or Strome a bit longer may be necessary.

--

Blackhawks Notebook

This statement by Davidson is yet another example of walking the walk after talking the talk. In other words, he's staying devoted to a rebuild which requires patience to not rush into decisions whether about players or hockey operations personnel like coaches.

In a blog last week, I focused on a piece by Scott Powers and Mark Lazerus from the Athletic where they discussed how management is developing a hiring profile first to help them identify and recruit ideal candidates for the head coaching position.

It's best that this profile acts as the road map to keep the franchise on track and not veering off course. Do available coaches like Barry Trotz or Peter DeBoer fit the profile? Regardless, the profile needs a meticulous hiring process, not a rushed one.


Last week I wrote another blog about possible ways for the Hawks to recoup a 2022 1st round pick by trading the aforementioned high-profile players like Dach, DeBrincat, Kane, and Jones. Circumstances have to be right to send any of them packing, of course.

Again, Toews and Strome may not garner a 1st in return but a 2nd may not be out of the question. One player not mentioned in last week's blog or this current blog who could bring back a 1st is Connor Murphy. RHD who are defensively inclined are a commodity in the NHL.

The only other player in the system who would attract a 1st rounder is top prospect Reichel. If there's an untouchable amongst the youngsters, it would be Reichel so any trade to ship him out of Chicago may necessitate a top 10 pick and a blue chip prospect.

--

See you on the boards!

Sources: Chicago Sun-Times, Chicago Tribune, Daily Herald, NBC Sports Chicago, The Athletic Chicago

Join the Discussion: » 177 Comments » Post New Comment
More from Theo Fox
» One Last Shift
» What's the Plan?
» Teaser Ad
» Power Source
» Cut the Mustard