According to a few sources, the Chicago Blackhawks’ interim GM Kyle Davidson has full autonomy to do what he wants with this current roster and move who he’d like before the NHL trade deadline. While the GM hasn’t been guaranteed a job next season, he’s been given the green light to make any changes he deems necessary and as an executive trying to prove he should get a fair look, he might be prepared to make some moves.
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Both Emily Kaplan of ESPN and Scott Powers of The Athletic expect the Blackhawks to be sellers this season. Both report that Davidson won’t have any restrictions if he decides to make deals and while names like Marc-Andre Fleury, Calvin de Haan, Dylan Strome, and Dominik Kubalik are the most obvious candidates, the rumors could extend to franchise stars like Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews.
Kaplan was a guest on the Kyper and Bourne podcast and said she believes the Blackhawks may approach both stars to see what their sense of the team’s future is. Both have a ton of control over where they go, but if someone like Kane wants to reunite with a player like Artemi Panarin in New York, the Blackhawks might be willing to see if they can facilitate a deal. Kane isn’t someone the Blackhawks want to move, but if he’s open to it and the return is right, Davidson might look at those options.
As for Toews, he could be a harder sell based on his age, injury history, and production level compared to Kane.
Marc-Andre Fleury’s Situation
While most insiders are speculating that the goaltender will be moved, Powers writes that there could be some consideration to talking with Fleury about an extension in Chicago. He notes:
It’s too early to gauge whether Marc-André Fleury might be interested in returning, too. Where the team heads record-wise in the coming months may determine some of that as well. If Fleury is playing like this, he could have some trade value at the deadline.
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