There are quite a few teams already that are interested in Jack Eichel and it appears that Chicago can be added to the mix. Larry Brooks of the New York Post reports that the Blackhawks have now communicated their interest in the 24-year-old to Buffalo.
The fit is definitely an interesting one. While the hope is that Jonathan Toews will be able to return for next season, the fact he missed all of this year means they can’t definitively count on him for 2021-22. And while players like Pius Suter and Philipp Kurashev stepped up at times, neither of them are ideal fits in a top-line role, nor is Kirby Dach who missed most of the year after suffering a wrist injury in a pre-tournament game for the World Juniors. Dylan Strome has shown flashes of upside but wound up a healthy scratch down the stretch so he can’t be relied on in a top role either.
If Toews is able to return, however, fitting three contracts of $10MM or more (Eichel is at $10MM through 2025-26, Toews and Patrick Kane at $10.5MM through 2022-23) may be challenging. Per CapFriendly, they only have $6.2MM in cap room for next year though that can be extended with placing Brent Seabrook and Andrew Shaw ($10.775MM combined) on LTIR. Even so, they do have a couple of notable restricted free agents to re-sign in Suter and defenseman Nikita Zadorov and both players have arbitration eligibility; their new deals will cut into that cap space.
As for Buffalo, there are a couple of intriguing potential trade chips from Chicago. They’ve been believed to be seeking a high draft pick and the Blackhawks have the 11th-overall pick in next month’s draft. That would likely need to be included in there. It’s also reasonable to think that the Sabres will want a young center in return and Dach, the third-overall selection in 2019, fits the bill. Put those two pieces together and that’s a pretty strong package to work with; some cap ballast to balance the books would likely be needed as well.
In a recent appearance on WGR 550 (audio link), Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman noted that Buffalo’s preference would be to move the disgruntled center (who is still wanting a new surgery on his neck that team doctors won’t sign off on) to the Western Conference as the league returns to its more traditional alignment for next season. That would seemingly push Chicago ahead of some suitors from the East and if Dach and the 11th pick are made available, the Blackhawks should definitely be in the mix. While there is some risk in acquiring Eichel with his neck situation and the uncertainty surrounding Toews, the potential for reward is definitely high as well if both are good to go for 2021-22.
In the meantime, this report comes off the heels of one earlier in the week that had Chicago looking into blueliners Dougie Hamilton and Seth Jones. It certainly appears as if GM Stan Bowman is going big-game hunting this summer.
If I were the ‘Hawks, I’d tell Buffalo to pound sand for trying to get Kirby Dach. Maybe they should take Pia Zadorov back…
Im no Hawks fan , but absolutely agree. Add Strome plus plus and the 1st instead. I wouldn’t even be considering moving Dach.
Without Dach in the trade, Bowman is masterbating. He’s playing with himself since Buffalo would be the one saying “pound sand”.
Have you seen Buffalo and their trade history? they don’t know the meaning of the word no. First team to approach them with a real proposal will be accepted.
Jason K is a experience AGM working with GMKA now.
You mean the guy who picked up Rutherford’s dry cleaning?
the team that refuses to rebuild…
Larry Brooks of the New York Post reports that the Blackhawks have now communicated their interest, in the 24-year-old, to Buffalo.
They don’t need another 10 million dollar salary especially one with a sore neck that’s probably going to need surgery.
Seth Jones however fills a definite need. Personally, I wouldn’t trade Dach for Eichel even up. If they make that stupid deal the writer proposed the Hawks could have like 30 million on LTIR if Toews doesn’t make it back. Hawks don’t need offense. Trade for Jones and draft one of the 2 G’s at 11 is the better play. 30 million on IR doesn’t get them to the Playoffs. Jones and
Hamilton might.
Jones sucks analytically. definitely could rebound but Hamilton is always on NHL networks top 20 defenders snd he would be a FA. Jones apparently wants to test the FA market next year anyways. id prefer Hamilton or Barrie over a Jones trade
The Blackhawks had a -25 goal differential. Adding Eichel isn’t going to fix that. It would make more sense to use their resources to improve the team defensively.
they still can, the Offense is already potent, but adding another stud could add more consistency. theyd still have cap space for Hamilton as well. if De Hann goes and if they trade Zadorov. sounds unrealistic for both guys together then we have a toronto cap shithole in Chicago
I don’t see the Hawks moving Dach so my best guess would be Strome, Kurashev, Beaudin and a 1st.