Just before the puck dropped on Friday’s game against the Lightning, the Blackhawks announced that Seth Jones would be scratched due to illness and that Taylor Hall was scratched for undisclosed reasons. With almost zero warning or explanation, it was clear something was up. It certainly didn’t make matters less suspicious that GM Kyle Davidson was reportedly in Denver for the majority of the past week.
While the Blackhawks didn’t get much in return, they got to be part of what will almost certainly be the biggest NHL trade of the season. In a deal that sent Mikko Rantanen to Carolina in exchange for Martin Necas, Chicago threw in former Hart Trophy winner Taylor Hall and used their room under the salary cap to help broker the trade.
At the end of the day, the Blackhawks gave up Hall while retaining 50 percent of Rantanen’s salary ($4.625 million) and grabbing a third-round pick in return. Full details:
Trade call underway now. Full deal:
To Hurricanes: Mikko Rantanen, Taylor Hall
To Avalanche: Martin Necas, Jack Drury, 2025 2nd Round Pick, 2026 4th Round Pick (all from Carolina)
To Blackhawks: 2025 3rd Round Pick (their own returned from Carolina), 50% of Rantanen’s salary
With Rantanen and Hall both set to hit free agency this summer, Chicago essentially paid $1.25 million for their own third-rounder, likely in the 65-70th overall range. It’s tough to see Hall go, but many assumed he would be traded within the next month – he had 24 points in 46 games and didn’t figure into Chicago’s long-term plans. Plus, with the Blackhawks looking to inject some of their young prospects into the lineup over the next few months (like I wrote earlier Friday), Hall was taking up a roster spot that can now be used to help build the future. All in all, it’s not a massive trade for the Blackhawks, but includes nothing but long-term gains for a team that has all but given up on the ongoing season.
