For the fifth straight year under general manager Kyle Davidson, the Chicago Blackhawks enter the NHL trade deadline as sellers. Unlike previous seasons focused on shedding NHL contracts and stockpiling draft picks, this year the primary objective is to clear roster spots to promote emerging prospects into the lineup. With the trade deadline set for March 6, the Hawks aim to move select veterans to create space for forwards Anton Frondell and Nick Lardis, with the possibility of Sacha Boisvert joining if he turns pro, as well as open a defensive slot for young players Sam Rinzel, Kevin Korchinski, and Ethan Del Mastro.
Key Veterans Likely to Be Traded
The Blackhawks have five pending unrestricted free agents who are expected to be the main assets shopped before the deadline: forwards Jason Dickinson, Ilya Mikheyev, Nick Foligno, and defensemen Connor Murphy and Matt Grzelcyk. Outside of this group, it is unlikely any other players will be moved, as the team plans to rely on its remaining veteran forwards—including Andre Burakovsky, Tyler Bertuzzi, Teuvo Teravainen, and Ryan Donato—to meet salary cap requirements for next season.
Most Probable Trade Candidates and Team Strategy
Among the five UFAs, Jason Dickinson and Connor Murphy stand out as the most probable to be traded. Both have embraced the possibility and reflected on their substantial tenures with the club—four years for Dickinson and nine for Murphy. Their professionalism and positional value—center for Dickinson and right defense for Murphy—make them appealing to contending teams looking to augment depth at the deadline. The Hawks also have two salary-retention slots, which could reduce their $4.25 million and $4.4 million cap hits by half to make acquiring them more financially feasible.
Murphy has resumed importance for the team after a strong January following a reduced role in November. However, if offers for Murphy don’t meet expectations, the Hawks could shift focus to trading Matt Grzelcyk, whose $1 million cap hit is substantially lower.
Forward Options: Weighing Dickinson Against Mikheyev and Foligno
Among forwards, Ilya Mikheyev has outperformed Dickinson for the second straight season and plays a vital role on the NHL’s best penalty kill unit. His bilingual skills facilitate communication with young prospects such as Artyom Levshunov and Roman Kantserov, enhancing team cohesion. This versatility has generated solid interest in retaining Mikheyev, with some fans hopeful for a re-signing. Still, if his trade value surpasses that of Dickinson or if contract demands prove too high, the Hawks may opt to move Mikheyev and keep Dickinson instead.
Nick Foligno, the team captain who could be in the final NHL season of his career, remains a wildcard. His future will likely be determined in an upcoming conversation with Davidson. While a trade seems less likely, the prospect of a final playoff run with his former teams—the Blue Jackets or Bruins—could influence his decision once informed of the Hawks’ intention to sell his contract.
Trade Market and Asset Management Expectations
The Blackhawks would consider acquiring a second-round draft pick for any of these veterans a strong outcome. However, contending teams may only be willing to offer third- or fourth-round picks. To bridge this gap, discussions could involve picks from later drafts (2027 or 2028), which teams tend to value less than 2026 selections. The Hawks might prefer these future picks due to their already extensive draft capital in 2026 and a deep prospect pool.
Acquiring picks in later years would allow Chicago to better space out their prospect pipeline or possess valuable assets that can be leveraged for trades involving NHL-ready players in the future, especially if the franchise evolves into a contender by then.
Upcoming Moves Could Shape Team’s Future Direction
As the March 6 trade deadline draws near, Chicago’s decisions on moving veterans like Dickinson and Murphy will significantly impact roster flexibility and the integration of its young talent. With no home games scheduled before the deadline and the NHL roster freeze ending soon after the Olympics, the Blackhawks could finalize deals at any moment, similar to last year’s Seth Jones blockbuster. This uncertain and tense period reflects the organization’s balancing act between immediate competitiveness and long-term development.
