Team: 2019-20 Chicago Blackhawks

Initial Creation Date: May 17, 2019

Published: May 17, 2019

Salary Cap Mode: Basic

Vegas trade: Vegas needs to clear some cap space with the signings that need to take place. They are already strong at center with Karlsson, Stastny and Eakin. Cody Glass can very well get time this year, and could be a regular the following. So why would they trade Haula over Eakin? Eakin is a perfect third line center for the type of game Vegas plays. He has 1 year left on his deal, same as Haula. Haula will get an increase from his roughly 3 mil, while Eakin will get a decrease in salary from his 4 mil. For cap reasons, it could be more beneficial to hold on to Eakin. Although I doubt they have Eakin or Haula come 20-21 because Cody Glass coming in. Trading one of our defensemen in this case is fitting, while the hawks have a surplus, Vegas does not have many. They can use a player for that bottom pair. Taking on Holden's contract will benefit Vegas in their cap crunch. Hawks can trade him or bury him. I can see how this trade favors the hawks but I think taking Holden off their hands helps.

Carolina Trade: Carolina has some of the best defensemen 1-6. With Hayden Fleury and Jake Bean also in their pool, they will likely be trading someone away for some offensive help. Justin Faulk can very well be that player. He only has one year left on his deal, I do not think they will want to pay him when they can play Fleury or Bean instead... A often proposed trade on this site is Saad for Faulk. I do not want to trade Saad away. He is a solid 20 goal scorer, reliable on the ice, great two way game and can play on the PK. so trade Anisimov, who just got replaced by Haula in the previous trade. Anisimov has seen his offensive abilities fall as he stopped playing with Kane (anyones numbers would fall when they stop playing with someone like Kane). But it was not terrible. He put up 15 goals, and put up 20+ in the three seasons prior. This season his defensive abilities have increased significantly. Anisimov fits the needs for Carolina in center depth but Faulk for Anisimov is not fair straight up. This next player could arguably be one of Perlini, Sikura, Kahun. I just do not picture Kahun on our team long term. There is an abundance of depth players (Kahun, Perlini, Sikura, Caguilla, Kubalik, Highmore) we do not have enough spots for them all. (Kurashev, Hagel, Barrett, Entwistle with shots the next 2-3 years) Adding Kahun I believe gets this deal done. They get two solid forwards that can immediately make an impact in their lineup. I am not going to go in depth on Forsberg. McElhinney and Mrazek aren't under contract, Darling has disappointed. Goalie depth.

The Seabrook era is definitely over with. Keith can still play well and is very reliable but it is time to replace the great top 2 we once had. (Keith will finish his career a Blackhawk). With Kane, Toews, Strome and Debrincat up front, you already have the forwards you need to build around. You need to give them a strong backend. Why add another strong center when Toews and Strome are going to be the #1 and #2 for how long? It hurts to take a defensemen with our first rounder for the 4th straight time but the backend is incredibly promising with Byram, Joki, Boqvist, Mitchell and Beaudin. Let Boqvist and Byram play some games in the NHL but play mostly in the AHL this upcoming year. Seabrook needs to play roughly 15 minutes a night while getting healthy scratched. I think he should play maybe 60 or so games.

It is incredibly important to grab a top 6 forward in FA. I do not want to go crazy and grab someone like Panarin or Duchene. As much as I'd love to have them, I would much rather be able to sign Strome, Debrincat, Joki and the rest when the time comes. Ferland can bring a physical presence to the hawks, a department they lack much in. He can grind for Kane and is capable of making plays with him as well. I want someone who belongs in the top 6 rather than putting a middle 6/bottom 6 player on the top line as we have done many times. Kubalik has impressed me a lot and I think he will crack the lineup as he is projected to. I am excited to see what Kubalik can bring to the hawks. If Kubalik or Perlini start to struggle we can play Sikura. These three can be in a rotation, and fill holes during injuries. Kampf is the perfect 4th line center, he is like the old Marcus Kruger and provide much for our depth.

I would be 100% satisfied with this team and draft pick going into the season. All criticism welcome.

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