Chicago Blackhawks: Why Trade of Teuvo Teravainen Makes Sense

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.

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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.

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)

Apr 3, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Blackhawks center Jonathan Toews (19) celebrates his goal with right wing Marian Hossa (81) against the Boston Bruins during the second period at the United Center. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-USA TODAY Sports /

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?).

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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.

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