Report: NHL insider addresses huge trade rumor for Hawks

Chicago Blackhawks general manager Stan Bowman has a long summer ahead of him. While most of us will be at the beach, sipping a beverage with our flip flops on, he’ll be busy trying to avoid incurring painful non-compliance penalties from the NHL.

With the Blackhawks currently sitting more than $4.5 million over the NHL’s salary cap, Bowman will have to get creative with his roster for 2017-18, which means likely moving a veteran or two in exchange for cap relief. Rumors have been swirling in recent weeks and many reports have defenseman Brent Seabrook and his $6.8 million salary on the way out in Chicago. But, one NHL insider, Pierre LeBrun, poured cold water on those rumors this morning.

It’s true that Seabrook is a leader in the Blackhawks locker room and has been a big part of the team’s success since he entered the NHL in 2005. However, at 32 years-old and with his effectiveness on the decline, some Hawks fans may the team’s loyalty will serve as a detriment rather than a positive. In any case, look for the team to now move one or both of Marian Hossa or Nicklas Hjlalmarsson for cap relief.