The Chicago Blackhawks and Anaheim Ducks have completed a minor trade, swapping Josiah Slavin and Hunter Drew today. According to Scott Powers of The Athletic, the Blackhawks wanted to give Slavin an NHL opportunity with another organization, something he wouldn’t receive in Chicago.
Despite that, Slavin will report to the San Diego Gulls at first, meaning his NHL dreams will have to wait for the time being. The 24-year-old forward has just 15 NHL appearances, all with Chicago last season, and is still looking for his first goal at te highest level.
Even in AHL Rockford his production had dried up, with just three goals and 11 points in 51 games this year, following his 32-point effort in 2021-22. The seventh-round pick (and younger brother of Carolina Hurricanes star defenseman Jaccob Slavin) is on the second season of a two-year entry-level contract he signed out of college and will be a restricted free agent this summer.
On the other hand, Drew has just two appearances in the NHL, coming last season with the Ducks. The sixth-round pick transitioned from defense to forward last season and managed to score 17 goals and 38 points in 64 games for the San Diego Gulls, while racking up 134 penalty minutes as one of the toughest players in the league. Things haven’t gone so well this year, with just five goals and 11 points, but those penalty totals are still high as Drew brings physicality every night.
He too is on an expiring contract, and will be a restricted free agent this summer. The deal comes down to swapping some minor league depth, and perhaps giving two players a better path to NHL playing time.
If the Hawks are tanking they’re doing it wrong. They’ve won 4 in a row and are trading their worst players. They’re going the wrong way in the standings and Kane is doing his part by standing on his head and scoring goals. Funny, Haven’t heard any crap about his hip lately.
Could be he is getting healthy.