The 2023 NHL Trade Deadline date on March 3rd is creeping closer, and the Chicago Blackhawks are one team where the rumors won’t stop swirling. It is believed they will be sellers as their second-worst record in the NHL justifies that, but who will they target? Ottawa Senators general manager Pierre Dorion has been sniffing around the Blackhawks as of late. He attended back-to-back games against the Los Angeles Kings and Vancouver Canucks on Jan. 22 and 24, making it clear some players were on his radar.
When speaking with our Senators’ contributor, Jacob Billington, he mentioned the team is “not particularly shopping picks or prospects. They’re more so in the buying market than anything else.” Billington also noted Ottawa is on the hunt for a “right-handed defensive defenseman and depth forwards.” While keeping those things in mind, here is what the Blackhawks could be looking to get from the Senators in a trade.
1. Mathieu Joseph
Billington mentioned Mathieu Joseph as someone who could be on the move. He could be an intriguing target for the Blackhawks. The 25-year-old is in his second season with the Senators after joining the team from the Tampa Bay Lighting in March 2022. He didn’t get the fresh start he hoped for as he suffered a sternum injury, which ended his season after 11 games. However, he was productive, with eight points during that time. This season, Joseph’s fortune hasn’t changed. In December, he suffered a lower-body injury that kept him out of the lineup for weeks. To add insult to injury, he was a healthy scratch on Jan. 18 due to an “internal incident,” for which he took responsibility. This year, he has nine points in 28 games (two goals, seven assists), which is good for the 10th-best on the Sens. However, internal and external factors may make the team want to part ways.
For Ottawa, Joseph has mostly been used as a third-line forward. According to Natural Stat Trick, his most consistent linemates have been Tyler Motte and Shane Pinto, who have skated 11 games together. However, on Jan. 25, the Sens placed Joseph on the first line with Brady Tkachuk and Tim Stützle. He has been known for his versatility throughout the lineup, even when he was on the Lightning. When Senators’ head coach D.J. Smith talked about Joseph returning to the lineup after the healthy scratch, he stated, “I know that [Joseph] can help us…
Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at The Hockey Writers…