The rumors are starting to swirl around trading Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane and should pick up steam over time unless management publicly commits to them as career-long Blackhawks.
If there's any truth to the rumor of the Flames pursuing Toews, it's assumed that Sean Monahan would be part of the deal. Regardless of what the assets are, the Hawks would likely need to retain salary.
Ditto for Kane. The most that a team can retain is 50% which equates to $5.25M for each of them. Teams can retain salary on up to 3 contracts. The Hawks are presently retaining salary on Olli Maatta only.
As discussed in Tuesday's blog, Kane would comparatively garner a more significant and favorable return of assets than Toews given his potential to play at an elite level into his late 30s or longer.
Oh yeah, there are also those things called NMCs to take into account, too.
While I'm not advocating that either get traded as soon as possible, management does need to decide by ideally the trade deadline on whether to retain Toews and Kane or ship them out for futures.
Anyway, here are hot takes on proposed trades:
* Trade Toews with 50% salary retained for a 2022 2nd, prospect with NHL potential but not elite, and roster player to help the other team's salary cap.
* Trade Kane with 50% salary retained for a 2022 1st, 2023 1st, top prospect, and roster player to help the other team's salary cap.
Time to dissect the proposed trades -- not me -- but I would understand if you would rather gut me for spewing such nonsense.
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Roster Updates
As outlined by Blackhawks news sites, Brandon Hagel would miss 5 games if he's out for a full 2 weeks which would include Friday's game versus the Coyotes and the upcoming road trip.
According to head coach Derek King, Tyler Johnson is at full health now as it pertains to both COVID and the neck injury he sustained in a game against the Hurricanes last month.
Isaak Phillips had a steady NHL debut and got a taste of what to expect and what to work on to perform at the highest level. AHL development is the best thing for him this season and next.
Having Wyatt Kalynuk start his 2021-22 campaign in Rockford is a smart move by the Blackhawks so he can finish getting into game shape and up to game speed at a more comfortable pace.
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IceHogs: Game Summary
Starting Lineup
Slavin - Reichel - Connolly
Nylander - McLaughlin - Altybarmakian
Pour - Gicewicz - Busdeker
Morrison - G Mitchell - Osipov
Beaudin - I Mitchell
Galvas - Kalynuk
Stanton - Watson
Subban
Soderblom
Scoring Recap
1st Goal (0-1): Mermis (Cramarossa, Ottenbreit)
2nd Goal (1-1): Connolly (Slavin, Reichel) PP
3rd Goal (2-1): Slavin (I Mitchell, Connolly) SH
4th Goal (2-2): Dewar (Shaw, Lizotte)
5th Goal (3-2): Kalynuk (Stanton, Connolly)
6th Goal (3-3): Swaney (Rossi, Shaw)
7th Goal (3-4): Hicketts (Shaw, Rossi) PP/OT
SOG For/Against: 21/43
PP: 1-for-2
PK: 3-for-4
Thoughts & Notes
* The top 4 on defense in last night's game was what it should be if forming it with the best D prospects in the system: Ian Mitchell, Nicolas Beaudin, Jakub Galvas, and Kalynuk.
* Despite scoring in his season debut, Kalynuk was pretty rusty with his reads and passes while also being a step behind in his skating which is otherwise his greatest strength.
* In the forward ranks, Cam Morrison has been less than impressive in his games thus far as he's been quite invisible which is not what you want from a power forward.
* Contrastingly, the biggest surprise has been center Carson Gicewicz who has been quietly effective in all zones and displays a unique faceoff style as he gets his body down low like in lacrosse.
* Some wonder who the next Hagel will be and I submit Andrei Altybarmakian as a poor man's version in terms of having the same hustle, nose-over-puck mentality, and kamikaze style but with a lower offensive ceiling; regardless, Altybarmakian simply goes all out on shifts and doesn't give up on plays.
* However, if there's a forward who could be next in line for a recall to Chicago, it would be Josiah Slavin who has been consistently effective and an impact player in all zones and situations.
* Read into it as you will but Collin Delia has suited up only once during the Hogs first 9 games; Arvid Soderblom has been anointed as the starter which means Malcolm Subban seems to have locked in the 2nd string.
Highlights
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Victor Stjernborg
2021 4th round pick Victor Stjernborg has suffered a critical blow with a lower body injury that could knock him out for the rest of the season. The tenacious center is Marcus Kruger-like at both ends.
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See you on the boards!
Chicago Blackhawks Blogger • 
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