What I'm hearing about the Blackhawks as the trade deadline approaches

There will be Connor Bedard s next contract, which could come as early as this summer.

Frank Nazar is due another deal after the 2025-26 season.

Kevin Korchinski, Colton Dach and Lukas Reichel are also up then.

Beyond them, there will be a bunch of other young players in line for second deals.

Oliver Moore, Sam Rinzel and Ryan Greene could burn their first years by turning pro later this season and their second contracts would be arriving that much sooner.

Artyom Levshunov could be around that time, too.

Advertisement The Blackhawks cap space has been easy enough to manage in recent years.

Its always simpler when youre operating well below the ceiling.

That wont always be the case.

Soon enough, the cap, especially as it continues to rise and salary expectations change with it, will become just as complicated for the Blackhawks as everyone else.

There will be a tougher puzzle to eventually assemble.

Blackhawks general manager Kyle Davidson has been largely responsible for managing the teams cap space in recent years.

Dominik Zrim, one of CapFriendlys founders, left the organization, and Davidson added a lot of what he was doing to his own plate.

But as Davidsons plate has become even more full as the organizations rebuild has continued, it began to make more sense to add someone new to alleviate some of Davidsons responsibilities.

Its why Davidson and the Blackhawks recently hired Chris OHearn as vice president of hockey operations.

OHearns specialty is cap management, and the Blackhawks plan to lean on his expertise and relationships around the NHL to help guide them in the coming years.

The Blackhawks should be more than fine with Davidson and OHearn running the organizations cap.

OHearn was last with the Minnesota Wild and spent nearly five seasons there.

He started as director of hockey operations and later as an assistant general manager.

He also previously worked for the Arizona Coyotes.

He and the Wild mutually parted ways during the 2023-24 season.

While its unclear exactly why OHearn left the organization, the Blackhawks found no red flags during their research process and felt comfortable hiring him.

One prospect who has impressed the Blackhawks this season despite not receiving much publicity is forward Jack Pridham, a 2024 third-round pick.

Pridham, who is 6-foot-2 and 185 pounds, began the season in the BCHL and was planning to remain there for the year until he enrolled in Boston University next season.

But when it was announced CHL players would be eligible to play in the NCAA , Pridham used that as an opportunity to join the Kitchener Rangers of the OHL and remain committed to BU.

Advertisement Pridham made the transition to the OHL seamlessly.

Using his speed and offensive ability, hes produced 13 goals and 14 assists in 25 games in the OHL.

Hes also had 96 shots on goal.

Pridham is probably still a ways from turning pro with him likely spending two or three years in college, but his play in the OHL has made him a bit more intriguing.

The Blackhawks recent trade with the Winnipeg Jets couldnt have come together any better.

We have acquired defenceman Isaak Phillips from the Chicago Blackhawks in exchange for defenceman Dmitry Kuzmin.

pic.twitter.com/fjq42vCPBP Winnipeg Jets (@NHLJets) January 15, 2025 The Blackhawks were looking to bring in someone who could help Levshunov in his transition to pro hockey.

Levshunov has gone from Belarus to the USHL to the NCAA to the AHL in three years.

Its a lot of adjusting.

Hes still 19 years old.

The Blackhawks thought he could use someone who could assist him on and off the ice.

The hope was also to locate someone who could help the Rockford IceHogs on the ice in the AHL.

The Blackhawks were also searching to trade Isaak Phillips.

The Blackhawks liked his development, but it also became clear he probably didnt have a long-term future with the organization.

Too many defenseman prospects had leapfrogged him in the last couple of years.

They sought to give Phillips an opportunity elsewhere.

So when the Blackhawks found a player in Dmitry Kuzmin who fit their criteria perfectly in that he was from Belarus, already knew Levshunov and could hold his own in the AHL, they felt fortunate the Jets were also open to trading him and would accept Phillips in return.

It all worked out.

Its unlikely the Blackhawks re-sign Ryan Donato despite the season he is having.

He is still more likely a trade candidate at the deadline.

The Blackhawks think highly of Donato, and he has been one of their more consistent players this season, but the Blackhawks are starting to think more about their future roster construction.

Advertisement Donato is also positioning himself for a decent salary bump as an unrestricted free agent this summer.

If he can get to 25 goals, the 28-year-old could be attractive to some teams in the offseason.

Its not just the goal-scoring for him this season, but the consistency in his play.

But whether its Donato, Taylor Hall or whomever, the Blackhawks do want to move a few players to create some roster spaces for the last few months.

The expectation is for at least Moore, Rinzel and Greene to join the NHL team when their college seasons end.

The Blackhawks dont expect Alec Martinez to seek a trade at the deadline.

Martinez was asked about his future recently, and he said he was set on helping the Blackhawks for now.

The Blackhawks have gotten calls on Seth Jones lately, but it hasnt been anything out of the ordinary.

The Blackhawks arent likely to move anyone who isnt on an expiring contract before this years deadline.

Maybe that changes closer to the deadline, but there are no signs of that as of now.

Lukas Reichels future will be interesting to watch.

The Blackhawks may not be sold on him as a long-term piece, but theyre also not in a rush to get rid of him.

There are still signs he could turn it around.

As always, its about the consistency with him.

He is also still young at 22 years old.

Plus, at his cap hit of $1.2 million, the Blackhawks can afford to wait to see where his development goes.

Thats not to say Reichel is untouchable, but hes not someone the Blackhawks are just looking to give a change of scenery.

The Blackhawks have thought Bedard and Nazar would be their first- and second-line centers of the future and that may still be the case but theyre also open to Bedard and Nazar being long-term linemates.

The Blackhawks have liked what theyve seen with the two players together and believe there are even better things to come as they spend more time together.

It also helps the Blackhawks have an abundance of other centers in the pipeline.

They always knew some of them would have to become wings.

Theres plenty of time to figure it out, but Bedard and Nazars chemistry does present a new possibility.

The Blackhawks will send out renewals to season-ticket holders in the next few weeks.

They are expected to include the first details of the organizations plans for the 2025-26 centennial season.

Full details about their centennial are expected to be announced after the current season.

(Photo of Connor Bedard and Frank Nazar: Steve Roberts / USA Today).

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