by Cassie Schneider
The 2026 NHL trade deadline was Friday March 6 at 3pm, and there had been much movement throughout the league in prior weeks, some teams more than others. Taking a look at the home team, The Blackhawks made many moves leading up to the trade deadline, seemingly remaining in their “rebuilding stage.” Jason Dickinson, Connor Murphy, Colton Dach, and Nick Foligno were all moved; their full Captain and Assistant captain lineup gone.
The move of Connor Murphy, who held the position of assistant captain, was surprising to many, but it needs to be looked at within a long-term view. This is a team filled with a bunch of young players in their main roster and feeder system. Defensively, Murphy wasn’t adding anything notable. What he was bringing on the ice is directly comparable to Louis Crevier who will most likely be replacing Murphy in the first line. Dickinson, the other assistant captain, and Colton Dach were also sent off for similar reasons. Dickinson shares the same story with Murphy, where the development of talent is eclipsing their need to stay. Younger players like Crevier and Oliver Moore hold much more longevity since they’re in their earlier professional years. Colton Dach has needed to go for about two years, producing little on the ice aside from being an instigator. In recent months, he’d been a healthy scratch.
The move of these players in leadership roles speaks to the fact that GM Kyle Davidson thinks their young talents are ready to stand on their own. The final trade of the deadline was team captain Nick Foligno to the Minnesota Wild where he joins his brother. Moving Foligno, who likely has only a few seasons left, to play with his brother is honestly a class act move by the Blackhawks.
With all letters up for grabs, franchise player Connor Bedard has already claimed an “A” patch for the rest of the season. The promising aspect of this is the fact Foligno was originally brought on the team as a mentor for Bedard’s acclimation to the NHL. Though bittersweet in terms of the locker room, this speaks to the confidence in Bedard and what he’ll be able to bring in coming seasons. Bedard, who’s supposed to sign a contract extension later this month, said in an interview, “It’s tough and sad when you lose those guys and motivates you to not be in this spot when you’re dealing with that. But yeah, in the span of a week, you lose four guys that are super important to the room. I know myself and everyone has close relationships with all of them. It’s hard, yeah. It’s hard. But it’s part of what we do.”
Tyler Bertuzzi is the next name when thinking about taking the captain spot. A leader in points and person, the veteran would make an ideal captain. In the end, the Blackhawks gained Andrew Mangiapane, Derrick Pouliot, a 2027 first round pick, a 2028 second round pick, and future considerations, which is a decent outcome. Kyle Davidson has spoken to his plan still being “on track,” which only time will tell. If anything is apparent, it’s the push being made for the upcoming draft lottery, and the confidence in current prospects soon joining the league, like Anton Frondell. If you can look beyond the bushes, the potential of future Stanley Cup in Chicago is visible.
