It's Time For The Blackhawks To Trade Their Dynasty Era Stars

It's Clear What Must Happen

The Blackhawks are currently sitting smack dab in the middle of NHL mediocrity, with a record of 15-18-6 and going nowhere. They aren't bad enough to get a top 3 pick in the NHL draft, but they aren't good enough to make the playoffs, which seems to be where most Chicago sports teams seem to end up each year. That's why we never win, but the Blackhawks had been the exception to that curse for many years in the early 2010's. They won three Stanley Cups in a span of six years, making them one of hockey's most modern dynasties. The problem is that eventually that was going to end, and now we are seeing the after effects of what it looks like to gut a roster due to cap issues.

The Blackhawks wanted to contend this season by signing goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury, who had just won the Vezina Trophy last season, while also making a huge acquisition in the form of defenseman Seth Jones from the Columbus Blue Jackets. After getting off to as very poor 1-9 start to the season, they fired head coach Jeremy Colliton. Interim coach Derek King has made the team competitive again by going 14-9 since, but the team doesn't figure to go anywhere this season.

Now we look at the trade deadline, and the massive contracts of Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews stick out. While both are tremendous players that will forever be remembered in Chicago for their contributions to winning three Stanley Cups, their contracts are making it hard to truly rebuild this team. Make no mistake, the Blackhawks need to do a full rebuild in my opinion in order to get back to where they used to be. Unfortunately, the Blackhawks have already said they won't trade Kane or Toews unless they ask to be traded.

Fleury On The Move?

The Blackhawks odds to win the Stanley Cup right now is sitting at +30000, so they are not in a position to win anything of relevance. Fleury deserves better than that, as he is getting up there in age and doesn't have much time left playing at a high level in the NHL. If the Blackhawks have any heart, they'll trade Fleury away to a contender so that he can have one last crack at winning a Stanley Cup before he retires. He's not winning one in Chicago anytime soon with how bad the team in front of him is.

The Hawks could probably get a pretty good haul for Fleury as well, speeding up their rebuild. Between he, Toews and Kane, Chicago could realistically change their entire trajectory by trading them away. While they would be absolutely horrible this season and for a few to come, the future would be much brighter than it is now. The organization is lacking draft picks and hasn't found a young superstar player to build around yet.

Alex DeBrincat has been phenomenal, and he should be the one piece that stays, alongside former top 3 pick Kirby Dach. As far as I'm concerned, everyone else can go, and that includes Kane and Toews.

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