Tyler Cameron: 15 Fake Trades to Improve Blackhawks Defence
Popping in here with an auxiliary blog this week. These 15 fake trade proposals are in response to my article on Monday, Blackhawks Looking into Ryan Murray + 15 Other Trade Targets.

The following trades are from those 15 other trade targets.

First

By the way--thanks Tyler--these are great write ups and fun to discuss!

I got Boston in game 7 as I can't root for those St Louis Blues. Boston wins it 3-2.

By the way--thanks Tyler--these are great write ups and fun to discuss!
- RaleighHawk

You bet!

Nothing like having a little fun with fake trade proposals to keep us chatting in June.

Coming up in the next couple of weeks leading up to the draft... I will have:

Remaining Draft Previews: Podkolzin, Cozens + recap and my final selection
Re-Draft Friday: 2016 - this will be the last one and offer my final rankings

BUF trades rights to Jake McCabe for Dylan Sikura and rights to Gustav Forsling – McCabe is a top 4, physical defenceman that the Hawks would love to be able to plug into their lineup. In return, Buffalo gets a top 9 forward in Dylan Sikura, as well as a 22-year old defenceman with 122 games in the NHL. Hawks then sign McCabe to a 4 year / $16M contract.

38 games, 0 goals and 24 years old? Hard pass as a Sabres fan

I got Boston in game 7 as I can't root for those St Louis Blues. Boston wins it 3-2.
- BlackhawkMike

Nice. Should be a good one. Game #7 for the Stanley Cup... doesn't get much better than this.

... well it would be better if the Hawks were in it.

38 games, 0 goals and 24 years old? Hard pass as a Sabres fan
- jcragcrumple

Fair. He will score though and he played really well in his last stint in Chicago. He actually led Chicago in CF% for the year at 55.1. The goals will come.

To me, it looks like he'll be a solid 3rd liner (w/ ability to play up in top 6 if needed), with a strong 2-way game and skills to chip in with secondary scoring.

38 games, 0 goals and 24 years old? Hard pass as a Sabres fan
- jcragcrumple

While I have you. What are you thoughts on McCabe?

Any other changes you would make if you were GM Botterill?

38 games, 0 goals and 24 years old? Hard pass as a Sabres fan
- jcragcrumple

Watch his game.

He’s much better - 200 feet - with and without the puck - on both sides of it - than those numbers.

Wiz was somewhat critical of the attention Byram was getting but I see that on his Draft Site he now has Byram going to Chicago in his mock draft. Has Wiz re-assessed Byram or does his mock draft try to anticipate who teams will select rather than who Wiz thinks is the true #3?

Because there was so much differences of opinion after the number 2 pick and because I have only seen small clips of each player, I wasn't sure who i wanted the Blackhawks to select. I have been leaning to them selecting Byram for the last little while and now that it seems by consensus that Byram is no worse than tied as the number 3 I want to see him chosen on June 21.

While I have you. What are you thoughts on McCabe?

Any other changes you would make if you were GM Botterill?
- Tyler Cameron

McCabe is fine. The injuries are creeping in a little bit, but he's a pretty solid 4 dman, probably a 5 on a contender. There's not a lot of flash or sizzle, except when he lays the occasional booming check. I think there might be a little more offense available in his game.

Botterill needs to bring in more offense, perhaps by trading Risto - something like Risto, Nylander, maybe another piece for Callahan, Gourde, Cirelli. I am also in the minority of Sabres fans who thinks we should trade 7OA - my target would be Trouba. Dahlin-Trouba, McCabe-Montour would be a good top-4 imo.

Fair. He will score though and he played really well in his last stint in Chicago. He actually led Chicago in CF% for the year at 55.1. The goals will come.

To me, it looks like he'll be a solid 3rd liner (w/ ability to play up in top 6 if needed), with a strong 2-way game and skills to chip in with secondary scoring.
- Tyler Cameron

That remains to be seen though. Right now his trade value is little more than a toss in imo. Better for the Hawks to keep him and try to get his value up

Dillon for Murphy? Yes, please.

Also, the Athletic has comps up for the top guys in the draft. Anyone other than me like Boldy @ #3? Anyone with Hossa as a comp is worth another look.

Matthew Boldy

NHL player comparable: Marian Hossa

The breakdown: “It’s perfect. It’s a great throwback reference to a guy who plays a modern game but is supremely dedicated to 200 feet and works that transition game to his overall attack. His seek and destroy mentality is very unique – the way that he lifts sticks and goes the other way and catches teams off guard. There must be a dozen clips of us scoring off his backcheck in two years.”

Quotes not working

“ That remains to be seen though. Right now his trade value is little more than a toss in imo. Better for the Hawks to keep him and try to get his value up”

I can appreciate biases, but I think you should be weary of overvaluing players based on their scoresheets. Two way positional players win championships and are therein, coveted by winning GMs.

Dillon for Murphy? Yes, please.

Also, the Athletic has comps up for the top guys in the draft. Anyone other than me like Boldy @ #3? Anyone with Hossa as a comp is worth another look.

Matthew Boldy

NHL player comparable: Marian Hossa

The breakdown: “It’s perfect. It’s a great throwback reference to a guy who plays a modern game but is supremely dedicated to 200 feet and works that transition game to his overall attack. His seek and destroy mentality is very unique – the way that he lifts sticks and goes the other way and catches teams off guard. There must be a dozen clips of us scoring off his backcheck in two years.”
- scottak

I still Stan needs to package something like Kahun, Gustaffson, and a guy like Beaudin to Buffalo or Edmonton for their 7th or 8th pick.

I want Byram at 3, but this draft is stacked with two way forwards.

I'd do the McCabe trade if you swap Forsling for Dahlstrom.

Pens politely decline

I'd do the McCabe trade if you swap Forsling for Dahlstrom.
- TheSabresTaco

Sure. Forsling has more games under his belt, is just 22 and could potentially be a top 4 one day if he puts it all together.

Dahlstrom is a 5-6 st best.

Any rationale as to why you like Dahlstrom more?

Pens politely decline
- ChrisMS

That's fair. I'm honestly not the biggest Maatta fan. I low-balled them.

What are your thoughts on him?

whoa...tyler throws kerosine of the trade speculation fire...

saad trade to florida...interesting...who replaces saad

he is a big body forward...getting back 7 years at 5 per is risk i don't think stanbow makes...

he has two more long term contracts looming in adb and possibly strome...

concerning refs: where is wes mccauley...

You bet!

Nothing like having a little fun with fake trade proposals to keep us chatting in June.

Coming up in the next couple of weeks leading up to the draft... I will have:

Remaining Draft Previews: Podkolzin, Cozens + recap and my final selection
Re-Draft Friday: 2016 - this will be the last one and offer my final rankings
- Tyler Cameron

I don't see any mention of Slater KK in your mock trades. Some NHL teams would like his size and particularly his contract going into a new season.

concerning refs: where is wes mccauley...
- bogiedoc

Believe he was injured last round.

Thanks for this blog Tyler. Such an in depth look at some potential options for the Hawks.

I must admit I’ve been a little bummed that Chicago isn’t listed as a preferred destination of any of the big name UFA’s, even if they don’t solve our problems.

The last several blogs have provided some nice food for thought while we wait for the offseason action to start.

Oh, and as much as it pains me to say.. I’ve got the Blues in game 7 tonight.