Teams know where the Chicago Blackhawks stand this summer as they are interested in taking on some bad contracts to get better assets and surround Connor Bedard with some NHL talent. The Vancouver Canucks are a potential team to take advantage of this, but not without a price.
Related: Domino Effect of Penguins’ Must-Win Loss to the Blackhawks
It’s no secret that the Canucks are trying to get rid of some bad contracts and there aren’t a ton of teams willing to take them on. With the Blackhawks as one of the only options and open for business, it might cost them the 11th overall pick. Vancouver has refused to rebuild and has stayed mediocre while having some talented players on their team. In order to make some noise and really take the next step, moving out some bad contracts and adding the right pieces might be necessary.
How a Draft Day Trade Will Go Down
Scott Powers noted that the Blackhawks aren’t optimistic about moving up the draft order from their 19th overall pick, but the Canucks could be their only option. Contracts like Tyler Myers, Conor Garland, and even Oliver Ekman-Larsson if they can swing that would help the Canucks if that money wasn’t on the books.
What is possible to be pulled off is one of those bad contracts packaged with the 11th overall pick in exchange for the Blackhawks’ 19th overall pick and a second rounder. The Canucks don’t have their second round pick for the next two years and it is going to cost them one way or another if they intend to move money out. The Blackhawks would move up as they would love to do in this year’s draft and take on a contract to help add cap and experience around their young group.
With how good the top of the draft is, it would be very difficult for the Blackhawks to move up anywhere else. Powers mentions that it might not even be enough if the Blackhawks used the 19th overall pick and one to two second rounders to move up to a top-15 spot this year.
Mylers would be the easiest to move for the Canucks since he has just one year remaining at $6 million AAV and a 10-team no-trade list. Garland might be a little more difficult due to the term, but he’s also younger and more talented. He is a middle-six forward with three years left at $4.95 million AAV and no trade protection. Both forward and defense is weak for the Blackhawks right now and need help. Personally I would choose to bring in Garland if there was a choice since Bedard needs help more than the right side of the defense.
