Kane and Toews watching the house they built fall apart may lead to trade requests this season
Yesterday we saw the Chicago Blackhawks trade 2 of their top young forwards in Kirby Dach and Alex DeBrincat, signaling that the rebuild is now in full effect. In addition to trading Dach and DeBrincat, it was also made know that the Hawks won't be issuing qualifying offers to Dylan Strome or Dominik Kubalik. That means that the only remaining top 6 forwards the Hawks have are Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews, but at what point do they say they want out?
General Manager Kyle Davidson said yesterday that they held discussions with Toews and Kane about the direction of the club at the end of the season so that they understood the plan. Until now, both players had said they wanted to be a part of the process, but after giving away all of their line mates, why would they want to stay? They have their Cups, they are legends in the town and they have already been through one rebuild. Why would they want to go through another one when they both know they don't have many years left?
On top of trading Dach and DeBrincat yesterday, the Hawks also reportedly began shopping Seth Jones, who they traded for last offseason and signed to a MASSIVE 8-year contract extension.
The Hawks had let it be known this past season that they wouldn't ask Kane or Toews to waive their NMC's, but one has to wonder whether or not this whole plan was by design, shipping out EVERYONE around them to leave them no choice but to either request a trade or play out the season for what should likely be the NHL's bottom team this coming season. For two competitors who want to win, I sincerely doubt they make it through the season in Chicago. I would not be shocked in the least to see both moved at the deadline with significant salary retention to contending teams.
