Breaking down the trade between the Chicago Blackhawks and the Florida Panthers
Chicago Blackhawks
Background:
The Chicago Blackhawks are 19-2-4 with 30 points on the season. They are in second place in a very competitive west conference. This is right where a team of the Blackhawks' caliber should be.
Why:
Simply put, the Blackhawks did not need to change anything about their team. They are currently one of the top 5 teams in the league both on paper and in the standings. They had to let LW Kris Versteeg go a few years a go when they won the Stanley Cup for the first time (not last year) due to cap constraints.
Versteeg is a very undervalued player who will usually put up 20 goals and 50 points during a season. Not a bad addition to a roster that is already overflowing with offensive talent. Also, this brings back Versteeg to a familiar place which should help ease the transition. He's going back to system he knows so he should fit right into where ever the Blackhawks decide to put him in the lineup since he is a type of player that can be either a first line winger or a third line winger. He's very versatile - one of the reason I like him so much.
TPRAT:
Offense: Up
Defense: Down
Goaltending: Same
Special Teams: Up
Florida Panthers
Background:
The Florida Panthers once again find themselves in the league's basement, going 4-11-4 and compiling only 12 over their first 19 games.
Why:
The Florida Panthers are not a good team. They have some promising talent but it will be a few years before that talent is in their prime. They need prospects right now more than players like Versteeg who they needed to get ride of despite being one of Florida's top 3 players.
RW Jimmy Hayes, a second round pick in 2008, has shown some decent offensive talent in the AHL the past few seasons - but that talent has yet to show up in the NHL. Through 43 NHL games he only has compiled 6 goals- 7 assists ( 13 pts) - 16 penalty minutes and is a -2. Florida is hoping a change of scenery will allow him to bring some of his offensive success from the AHL up to the NHL. He will also be able to get significantly more NHL playing time considering how bad Florida's roster is.
D Jimmy Olsen was a first round pick in 2009. He has not played like a first round pick at all - playing horrible hockey both at the NHL level and at the AHL level. In 28 NHL games he only has 1 assist, 6 penalty minutes and is a -5. His AHL stats also leave a lot to be desired. I'm sure Florida is thinking the same thing with Olsen as they are with Hayes - that a change of scenery will allow them to develop into the players people projected them to be when they were drafted. He, like Hayes, will also be able to see considerable more NHL ice time than if he was still with the Blackhawks - due to Florida's roster being so weak.
TPRAT:
Offense: Down
Defense: Up
Goaltending: Same
Special Teams: Down
Final Word:
The Blackhawks are one of the best teams in the NHL and they just got even better. The Florida Panthers are one of the worst teams in the NHL and they just got even worse. You tell me who won.
Winner:
Chicago Blackhawks
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