The struggling Chicago Blackhawks are scouring the trade market to help to spark their roster amid an ugly start to the campaign.
TSN Hockey Insider Pierre LeBrun reports the Blackhawks are hoping to add a scoring winger and are open to moving various assets in hopes of helping the team dig out of a 4-13-1 record.
“Blackhawks GM Kyle Davidson, I think, took full advantage of his time in Toronto around the GMs meeting to meet with other GMs,” LeBrun explained on Insider Trading Tuesday. “He has been active in trade talks, really open to pretty much almost anything outside of the obvious untouchables. He’s open to moving a lot of his players. He’s also open to moving a lot of his top picks. The Blackhawks have three first-round picks in the June draft, as well as two high second-rounders, including Vancouver’s. And a lot of those picks are in play as the Blackhawks try to give a jolt to their roster.
“They’re looking for a scoring winger, but honestly, they’re not too picky because it’s hard to make trades this time of year. They’re pretty open-minded in trying to shake up their roster.”
Chicago enters play Wednesday sitting last in the Central Division and 12 points back of the Utah Mammoth for the final wild-card spot.
The Blackhawks, who last reached the playoffs in 2020, were hoping to take a step forward this season after adding defenceman Bowen Byram and brining back Patrick Kane this summer. The team has finished last in the Central Division in each of the past four years are quickly on pace to see that streak extend to five seasons.
Head coach Jeff Blashill, in his second year behind the bench, told Scott Powers of The Athletic that the team held internal meetings this past weekend in hopes of finding answers amid the poor start.
“For sure, internal assessing,” Blashill said of the meetings. “Generally, we do anyways, but I’d say intensified, assessing where we’re at, where our game’s at. What areas can we improve? What do we need to improve at? And then how do you improve at those areas?”
While LeBrun reports adding an attacking winger is on Davidson’s wishlist to help the team, Blashill’s focus is on the defensive end. Chicago has allowed an average of 4.22 goals per game this season, the second-highest total in the league behind only the Vancouver Canucks.
“No. 1, by a country mile, just a big blanket statement, is we’ve got to give up less chances,” Blashill said. “The early part of the year, we didn’t create much, and we gave up a lot. As the year went along, we started creating more, but we still gave up too many chances. By giving up less chances, you put yourself in a position to win more games.”
The under-pressure Blackhawks will host the Buffalo Sabres on Thursday, having had a break in schedule after a humbling 9-2 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes on Sunday.