Even though the Chicago Blackhawks are five days into their All-Star break, and although many are enjoying the retreat from the season, the hockey world never sleeps. Even though the team is off, the news and rumors never stop, especially now that the trade deadline is a month away (March 8). Here are some developments from the past few days.
Blackhawks Miss Kuzmenko… What now?
General manager (GM) Kyle Davidson said back in December that he was not expecting the team to be very active at the trade deadline, and it made even more sense when they extended their best trade assets in Jason Dickinson, Nick Foligno, and Petr Mrazek for two more years in January. Still, Davidson used the magic words, “We’re certainly open to anything that comes our way.”
Things got interesting on the trade front when insider Elliotte Friedman mentioned a connection between Chicago and Vancouver Canucks forward Andre Kuzmeno on Jan. 29. This move made perfect sense on the surface. A 28-year-old forward who scored 39 goals last season and has one year left on his two-year contract ($5.5 million AAV). In the meantime, he would have been a nice scoring punch, as the team is barely getting by on that front (they have scored seven goals in their last eight games), and with more rookies likely entering the fold next season, it would be wise to add someone who has proven they can put the puck in the net. But he was traded to the Calgary Flames on Jan. 31 as part of a trade package with Elias Lindholm going to Vancouver.
Related: 3 Blackhawks Who Must Be Traded by the Deadline
So what now? Nate Brown of Chicago Hockey Now mentioned an intriguing option: Kaapo Kakko. This stems from reports that New York Rangers general manager Chris Drury is listening to calls on the 22-year-old forward. Kakko is an intriguing player, as he was drafted second overall in 2019, but he hasn’t fit the bill of a top draft pick. His career year came last season when he notched 40 points in 82 games. This season, he only has six points in 28 games. He excels on the defensive side, being a “plus” on the plus/minus scale every year except his rookie season in 2019-20. He is currently a plus-3. He is also in the last year of a two-year deal ($2.1 million AAV).
Kakko could be a player that interests Davidson. It wouldn’t be the first time he acquired a young player that needs to prove it. He is also a big body (6-foot-3), which the…
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