Chicago Blackhawks: The Reason Trading Teuvo Teravainen Actually Makes Sense, Aside from Bryan Bickell’s Contract
Announced Wednesday, Chicago Blackhawks trade an unwanted $4.5 million dollar contract in Bryan Bickell along with young Finn Teuvo Teravainen. In return the Blackhawks receive a 2016 second round draft pick, and 2017 third rounder.
Recent speculation suggested that Chicago was looking to package Bickell’s contract with a top prospect to relieve themselves of his hefty cap hit.
Over the past week, experts and analysts have cringed over the idea of Chicago sacrificing yet another prospect to save a couple million dollars on the salary cap.
More from Chicago Blackhawks
- There is only one right move for the Chicago Blackhawks captaincy
- Looking back at the Blackhawks’ trades involving Andrew Ladd
- Blackhawks fans might not like where Patrick Kane could potential sign
- Connor Bedard makes the Blackhawks a national broadcast favorite
- This city needs a PWHL franchise as soon as possible
Rewind to the start of 2015-16, it was GM Ron Francis who took winger Kris Versteeg off Stan Bowman’s hands.
That worked out well and earned the Canes assets (Valentin Zykov and a draft pick) at the deadline. You can bet Carolina is hoping the change of scenery yields similar results.
Technically speaking, experts/analysts were correct. Giving up on a top prospect such as Tyler Motte for example makes little sense.
Yesterday’s report may have changed everything though – regarding potential expansion approval to Las Vegas.
An impending NHL expansion puts Chicago is one of the most uncomfortable situations of all teams.
The fact of the matter is, the Blackhawks would struggle to keep Teuvo Teravainen in an expansion draft.
Let’s be honest anyways, Teravainen was a highly touted prospect, and while he’s shown glimpses of stardom, the consistency hasn’t been there to cement his name as a top-six forward.
Related Story: NHL Mock Draft 6.5: 7 Rounds of Prospect Analysis
Let’s do the work to explain:
On a side note, teams can ask a player with a limited no-movement clause, modified NTC, full NTC, or any type of no-movement clause to waive it. This changes from past years when those players were deemed automatic saves. If the player declines, teams are forced to use an automatic save.
Players with two full years of pro service or less are automatically exempt.
Chicago Blackhawks will take the route of seven forwards, three defensemen, one goaltender.
Below are automatic saves (contract clause)
F1 Jonathan Toews
F2 Patrick Kane
F3 Marian Hossa
F4 Marcus Kruger
F5 Artem Anisimov
F6
F7
D1 Duncan Keith
D2 Brent Seabrook
D3 Niklas Hjalmarsson
G1 Corey Crawford
That’s right folks. The Blackhawks have precisely two spots available to fill for a potential expansion draft. A player such as Artemi Panarin falls under the two-years or less pro service since the NHL doesn’t recognize the KHL as a pro league (for some reason?).
More from Puck Prose
- Detroit Red Wings 2023 Rookie Camp Has Plenty of Ups and Downs
- This Columbus Blue Jackets rookie doesn’t want to be forgotten
- 2 trades the Boston Bruins must make to secure the Stanley Cup
- 3 reasons the Avalanche won’t win the Stanley Cup in 2024
- This is a big year for Alex Turcotte and the Los Angeles Kings
Forward names with more than two years of pro service:
Andrew Shaw, Richard Panik, Andrew Desjardins, Dennis Rasmussen, Brandon Mashinter, Mark McNeill, Ryan Hartman, Tanner Kero, Garret Ross, Kyle Baun (a few other smaller names exist)
One thing that no one is talking about in relation to a potential expansion draft is the fact that teams are built very differently 10 years into the salary cap world compared to 2000. Depth reins king, and teams have numerous quality prospects developing in the AHL.
Teams such as Chicago and Detroit who insist on prospects spending extra time in the minors, will now have decisions to make on quality players without knowing their true NHL potential.
Next: NHL Weekly Roundup: Latest News and Rumors
Wednesday’s Carolina Hurricanes – Chicago Blackhawks trade is merely a minor deal in comparison to what we expect in coming weeks. If we consider the Florida – Vancouver trade (Erik Gudbranson for Jared McCann – draft picks both ways), and now this one, a market value is being created. Expect things to continue to heat up the closer we near to the NHL draft in Buffalo.