Blackhawks and Canucks linked in monster Draft day trade

It's no secret that the Chicago Blackhawks are looking to hit a homerun at the 2023 NHL Entry Draft this offseason. 

Which, if we're being honest, will be pretty easy to accomplish considering they have the #1 overall pick and the rights to draft generational superstar Connor Bedard. More than that though, the Blackhawks have two 1st round picks and four 2nd round picks for a total of six selections in the top 60 pics. It's clear that GM Kyle Davidson is looking to load up on young talent this offseason and has stocked his draft assets thusly.

Blackhawks insider Scott Powers though thinks that Davidson and the Blackhawks have even more Draft day maneuvers in mind though. Powers, who is very connected in the organization and who has correctly predicted the team's trades and transactions in the past, posits that the Blackhawks could exchange their 19th overall pick with the Vancouver Canucks' 11th overall pick in an effort to move up the Draft. In exchange, the Blackhawks would take on one of the Canucks' big money contracts. The most likely target, according to Powers, is forward Conor Garland.

More from Powers:

• The Blackhawks aren’t optimistic about their chances to move up from their second first-round pick at No. 19. Even if the Blackhawks package the No. 19 pick and a second-rounder or two, that probably isn’t enough for a team to budge from a top-15 selection. The Vancouver Canucks might be the only team that could make sense. It’s no secret the Canucks are trying to get out of a few contracts this offseason. If the Blackhawks took on one of those contracts and packaged a first- and second-round pick, maybe that would entice the Canucks to trade the No. 11 pick. There should be some really good players left on the board at 11 if the Blackhawks could do that.

- Scott Powers

A deal like this makes a lot of sense for both sides. It's likely just a tough pill to swallow for Canucks fans though as Garland was a key piece of a major deal with the Arizona Coyotes in which the Canucks felt they were shedding bad contracts, only to acquire two more in Garland and Oliver Ekman-Larsson.