It’s been a long time since the Chicago Blackhawks were in this position entering an NHL trade deadline. The team is no longer a buyer looking to put a potential Cup contender over the top, but more of a seller fielding offers from other teams on players who could be moved for future assets.
That’s a stark contrast from the approach we saw GM Stan Bowman take in past seasons, when the Blackhawks were among the most aggressive buyers on the market. Just in 2015 and 2016 alone, the team gave up both its first-round picks, a second-round pick, Phillip Danault, Marko Dano, and other pieces for short-term upgrades.