NHL Trade Deadline Primer: Chicago has everybody to sell

But how much value do their players have?

The NHL trade deadline is just around the corner, so let’s take a deeper look at some individual players and teams that figure to make headlines over the next few weeks. We look at available players, why they are on the market, what they might bring in a trade, teams that should be interested, and much more. We continue today with the everything must go sale in Chicago.

The Chicago Blackhawks made it crystal clear this past offseason that their intention for the 2022-23 season was to strip its roster down and put itself in the best possible position to get the No. 1 pick in the draft.

Dominik Kubalik and Dylan Strome were non-tendered and let go for nothing.

Kirby Dach, a No. 3 overall pick from just a couple of years ago, was traded for a first-round draft pick.

Alex DeBrincat, one of the best young goal scorers in the league, was traded for nothing but more draft picks despite the fact he was coming off of the second 40-goal season of his career and was only entering his age 25 season. If your rebuild does not have room for that guy, then you know it is a big picture, long-term teardown.

More than halfway through the season the Blackhawks are doing exactly what everybody expected them to do. Lose a lot of hockey games.

Now the time has come for them continue the sell off, and they figure to be the busiest team in the weeks leading up to the trade deadline with Patrick Kane, Jonathan Toews, Max Domi, and Jake McCabe among the players almost certain to go.

Selling everybody is the only thing that makes sense for Chicago

Even if the Blackhawks draft lottery luck go their way and they end up with prized prospect Connor Bedard and the No. 1 overall pick, this team is still years — YEARS!! — away from contending.