RUMOR: Expect MAJOR changes in Chicago this offseason

After stumbling into the postseason and falling flat on their face against the Nashville Predators in the opening round of the Stanley Cup playoffs, the Chicago Blackhawks find themselves in an unusual position. For the first time in a decade fans of the team aren’t sure whether the Hawks are trending upwards or downwards. Whichever ultimately ends up being the case, will likely be the result of the path Hawks’ management takes this offseason.

Satchel Price outlines all of general manager Stan Bowman’s offseason options in an article for SBNation’s Second City Hockey. In it he posits the idea of trading cornerstone players like Niklas Hjalmarsson, Artemi Panarin and Patrick Kane. While the latter two may not seem likely, Price puts forth a compelling arrangement between the Hawks and Buffalo Sabres that features Kane and burgeoning superstar Jack Eichel. Unlikely? Probably. Fun to imagine? Absolutely!

More likely is a scenario in which Hjalmarsson is moved to create cap flexibility. He’s a serviceable defenseman on a good contract, but is one of the few highly paid Hawks without a no-trade clause in his agreement. While the Hawks would certainly feel the pinch with Hjalmarsson out of the lineup, he’s certainly more easily replaceable than superstar snipers like Kane and Panarin.

Whatever path Bowman and the Hawks decide to take this offseason, it’s likely that the team will be more active than usual come July and August.