The Chicago Blackhawks have been linked to Dallas Stars forward Jason Robertson for quite some time. While very little of the chatter is coming out of either camp, Robertson is at the top of most Blackhawks fans’ wish lists this offseason. Many talking heads and insiders have also made the connection because of the fit here in Chicago. However, the only way a trade happens is if contract negotiations between the 27-year-old goal scorer and the Dallas Stars break down.
A Crazy Trade That Benefits the Blackhawks
Pundit Jeff Marek, former co-host of 32 Thoughts, has been mentioning the connection between the Blackhawks and Robertson for a while now. He knows they have to improve the roster and start competing.
“They need to do better,” he said last week on an episode of The Sheet. “They need to win next year. They need players. They don’t need picks and prospects. That fourth doesn’t do anything for them this year.”
With that in mind, he came up with a crazy trade proposal that would bring Robertson to Chicago for a lot less than many think. His proposal originally came up during a conversation on about how the Vancouver Canucks can draft both Ivar Stenberg and Caleb Maholtra.
The move in this scenario is the Canucks giving the San Jose Sharks a second-round pick to ensure that they don’t take either forward with the second overall pick. You don’t see these types of deals much anymore, but they used to happen and are not illegal.
Then, the Canucks, Blackhawks, and Stars would make this three-team trade:
The Stars get defenseman Filip Hronek and the rights to Ilya Mikheyev.
The Canucks get the fourth overall pick, defenseman Ilya Lyubushkin, and Ryan Ellis’ contract.
The Blackhawks get Robertson.
I don’t think many people would be upset if Kyle Davidson could acquire Robertson for only the fourth overall pick, Mikheyev, and Ellis’ contract. The likelihood of that happening isn’t great, but with so many players on the trade market this summer, the prices could go down.
Marek admitted that this was nothing but brainstorming on his end; it wasn’t a report of something he’s heard being discussed. He sat down and came up with a logical scenario that helps everyone involved. The Blackhawks get the bona fide star they need to take this young group to the next level. The Canucks get two young studs to start their rebuild in Malhotra and Stenberg, and some help to reach the salary cap floor. Marek’s reasoning for the Stars giving up Robertson and getting Hronek back is to make up for the fewer goals being scored by allowing fewer.
I doubt we see this exact trade come to fruition, but I sure wouldn’t complain if it does. But this is the kind of creativity it takes to get blockbuster deals made.
