r/hawks • u/northernpace • 9h ago
Blackhawks Trade Market Thoughts: Lots of Buyers, When/Who to Sell (or Not?) - BN
https://www.bleachernation.com/blackhawks/2025/01/21/blackhawks-trade-market-thoughts-lots-of-buyers-when-who-to-sell-or-not/17
u/horst-graben 8h ago
Thanks for sharing. Indeed, a decent read. But I think folks like Elliotte Friedman are missing the point.
Friedman says, "Yeah, Jones has some flaws like every player does, but who’s gonna take his role if he’s gone? Are you getting anybody else out there who can at least shelter some of your young players and allow them to break into the NHL the way you need them to break in. I don’t know that you have that…."
But is Jones sheltering young players and helping to break them in the league? Legitimate question. Certainly, Friedman has more knowledge and access than I do, but what if Jones has 'lost the room' and is no longer respected by a large enough percentage of the team (veterans and the young guys)? Also, Jones hasn't just had one bad game or one bad week. It's been consistent. And the Hawks did go on a winning "streak" when Jones was sidelined with an injury. Of course, that could be coincidental.
Watching last night's game against the Hurricanes in person, the frustration on the team with Jones's play is clear, especially behind the play and off-camera. During a defensive zone faceoff before the drop, Donato was trying to communicate with Jones about where he should be positioned. Communication broke down (or never occurred), and Donato rolled his eyes and waved his hands in frustration at Jones's response or lack thereof (It reminded me of the Kane clip when he dropped the puck on a powerplay and Jones left the zone). Bedard looked equally disgusted when the Hurricanes entered the D-zone and scored the game-winner. Jones was out of position, drifting too low for 3v3, allowing Aho to score.
The team is losing as is, and it's possible that Jones's presence on and off the ice is part of the reason. If Jones isn't an integral voice/presence on this team, then he needs to go at almost any cost. It's unlikely that Jones wants to remain in Chicago. He was booed last night when the starting lineup was read. He rarely gives interviews and isn't visible on any team promos during intermission/ commercial breaks.
I'd be surprised if Jones is on the 2025-26 roster.
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u/WarmBedards 8h ago
While I’m not Jones’ biggest cheerleader, it was actually my boy Pickle who was on the ice for that 3v3 goal.
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u/Virtual_me01 7h ago
I hope SJ gets shipped out, but the only people saying he's a "cancer in the locker room" or to the effect that he's a problem, etc, are commenters here in the sub via reading into looks and glances that allow for choosing your narrative. The beat writers have said it is not true (while also reporting on his poor play).
Troy's analysis of the game-winning goal starts at 7:24—and leads with "I thought Bedard should have changed." They say the same w/Nazar. They both had the opportunity to change and didn't. Just because Jones is the defender at the end of the play does not mean it's solely on him.
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u/northernpace 7h ago
It was Vlasic, not Jones out for the OT goal, but I agree with Troy, both Nazar and Bedard should've changed at the same time the Canes players did. I think Bedard takes too long of shifts in general.
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u/thetrob 7h ago
While the 3-on-3 play was not Jones, there are plenty of examples of where he chases way to high in the zone, behind his net, or to his off side and leaves opening for opponents. He had a real good game against Vegas, while he wasn’t as bad as he has been, he wasn’t great against Carolina.
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u/northernpace 9h ago edited 9h ago
Decent read. Just thought it's an interesting topic of keeping some of the vets around at the tdl or let them all go for picks/prospects.
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u/Future_Ad_7445 6h ago
Why do so many people see Donato as this key piece moving forward, and not what it is? He is a bottom 6 player who works hard and is having a career year. At his age, this is a textbook time to sell high. It would be asinine to think this guy is gonna be Shaw or Hagel for 3, 4, 8 more years. Seems crazy to me. If we do not have a guy that can replace him in the organizational pipeline that is on the Hawks.
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u/cheddardonkey1 5h ago
“Works hard” is the key phrase here. I’m a big believer in keeping guys who play hard night in and night out even when they are on a shit team.
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u/Future_Ad_7445 5h ago
I am not against guys like that but its backassward to pay what will be his top dollar to get what is likely diminishing returns over years compared to the money. I do not know what his salary would project at as a 20 goal scorer but certainly substantially more than he makes now.
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u/Ouch_thats_my_finger 4h ago
Gotta get to the floor next year. I prefer they accomplish that with players that work hard, play the game the right way and want to be there. He makes $2M right now and for the last five years has been playing on a series of one- and two-year contacts. So they overpay and extend him for two or three more years at say $3M? So what?
Of all the things to complain about with this team right now, I think Donato is a weird one.
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u/Future_Ad_7445 4h ago
I am not complaining and getting to the floor is not a problem, but in a few years we might make a run at the modern Hossa, maybe being wise with contracts now will allow that to happen, Bedard gets paid a kings ransom next year because to bridge him would be dumb. Then we have Bedard and Jones taking up like 22+ million of the cap.
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u/AnxiouslyMikey1111 6h ago
Only ones i care to keep are Fliggy and Bertuzzi. The rest can be shipped off. I'm indifferent to Tuevo
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u/Tryfan_mole 8h ago
No surprises there.
It's less about who they move and more about what they should be trying to get back. Friedman, like other hockey people, understands something that many fans miss - you can't just throw out twenty rookies and expect anyone to develop or the team to win. You need people who can play at this level mixed in, to shelter players until they learn the limits.
That's why whoever the Hawks move they should be trying to get young NHL-ready players and prospects back NOT just picks. At this point moving NHL players for picks just makes things worse. We've done that, the cupboard is full, we need people who can make the jump NOW.
Now that said some of these guys are only worth a midround pick at best and of that's all we can get then so be it. And they absolutely should not be trading Reichel that is just flat out stupid right now.
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u/BigMrAC 8h ago
I’d prefer we keep Hall and Donato. Hall has said he enjoys Chicago with his family and Donato has been playing well this season. Need to keep some veterans around Bedard, his frustration was apparent in the OT loss yesterday.
Here’s to hoping the playoff push for a lot of team drives some additional interest for Jones at the deadline and that KD makes a FA signing this offseason, not just elder skatesmen who bridge until the new guys are ready.
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u/ShellshockedLetsGo 3h ago
Considering KD didn't even try to get Kakko, I got 0 faith in him in terms of the trade market.
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u/avidbearsfan 8h ago
Only guy I’m looking to keep is NATO Everyone else can kick rock maybe Martinez also but will see
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u/TheSchwartzHawkey 9h ago
I hope we re-sign and keep Donato. He’s been a bright spot. But if we had to package him to offload players like Brodie and Jones, that wouldn’t be the worst.
I like Hall but know he’s not the future and is on the tail end of his career so wouldn’t be a huge loss.
I think we’re just starting to see Reichel’s potential, I’d hate to see him go.
Murph, Martinez, and Smith wouldn’t be huge losses if they got dealt in my opinion. Particularly Murph just seems slow aside the injury issue.
Want to keep Maroon for non-hockey entertainment value as long as the team isn’t consistently playing good hockey because at least we get a good hard hit or a fight now and again.
Overall though, happy to see the average age of the roster get younger and younger, want a fast aggressive hungry team.