Friedman comments on trade rumors surrounding Chicago superstars.

Tear down coming in Chicago?

HockeyFeed
HockeyFeed
Published 5 years ago
Friedman comments on trade rumors surrounding Chicago superstars.
Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune

The Chicago Blackhawks are a train wreck this season and big changes are definitely on the horizon.

Earlier this season the Blackhawks moved to fire head coach Joel Quenneville and at the time the move was viewed as a highly controversial one. Since the move general manager Stan Bowman has been under intense scrutiny from the Blackhawks' fan base and the team has failed to deliver since the coaching change, with the expectation now that some players will soon be on the chopping block.

There has even been talk regarding the future of superstars Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane in the Blackhawks organization. That being said though Sportsnet's National Hockey League insider 

“I don’t think so,” considered Friedman as per Nichols on Hockey. “I think Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane are - I hesitate to use the phrase ‘Blackhawks for life’ because you never know what can happen, but those guys are as close to being Blackhawks for life as anyone ever could be.” 

Fans in Chicago will no doubt be relieved at that response from Friedman, although I certainly do believe that there is more love in the modern Blackhawks fan base for Kane than there is for Toews, who's play has declined considerably in the past 2 seasons. That being said though it sounds like 2 other big names, that of goaltender Corey Crawford and defenseman Ducan Keith, may not be so safe.

“When I see Chicago, I see two players that if they wanted to go, the Blackhawks would probably talk to about, ‘Where do you want to go.’ One is Duncan Keith, who has a no-move clause and it’s his call, and I think there’s a lot of teams out there - and maybe Duncan Keith isn’t a No. 1 defenseman anymore, but he’s still pretty good and he can really help you. He’s a guy, even though he’s 35 years old, he’s a physical marvel and he takes great care of himself.”

“The other guy is Corey Crawford, who’s only got one more year under contract. Now, Crawford has had some injury problems and I think that that is one thing that you’d be wary about. But there’s a lot of teams looking for goalies and they haven’t been thrilled with what’s been out there. I think Crawford and Jonathan Quick are two guys that teams are going to wonder, ‘Okay, are these guys available.’

Either move would be a blockbuster, and given that the Blackhawks have been as bad as they are both seem like they are very realistic options at this point. Which of these two do you believe is most likely to be move?

Source: