The 19-year-olds in the AHL debate continues
TSN: The CHL and NHL are working on a compromise with drafted players, 19-year-olds, who are currently not eligible to play in the AHL, according to Darren Dreger. These players, if not ready for the NHL, can leave for the NCAA, where teams lose developmental control.
“So, NHL clubs want to be able to protect these players, develop these players, but the CHL is also pushing back to say, look, there has to be some restrictions here. So, we’re talking about just first-round draft picks. Does every NHL club only get one 19-year-old allowance? Is it four?
I mean, there are a number of areas that have to be cleaned up. The president of the CHL, Dan MacKenzie, will be at the GM meetings on Wednesday. I don’t know if we’ll have a conclusion, but there will be more back and forth.”
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Will the Chicago Blackhawks go after a top-six forward this offseason?
Ben Pope of the Chicago Sun-Times: If the Chicago Blackhawks are looking to acquire a top-six forward this offseason, it would likely have to come via trade over free agency. Alex Tuch is looking like the top UFA forward, but he re-sign with Buffalo Sabres, or he’ll have like 20 teams interested in him if he gets to the open market. Next up, up front are the likes of Mason Marchment and Anthony Mantha.
The Blackhawks are loaded with draft picks and prospects. They have 12 picks in the first two rounds of the next three drafts.
Three potential trade targets could be Robert Thomas (St. Louis Blues), Jason Robertson (Dallas Stars), and Matthew Knies (Toronto Maple Leafs). Thomas has five years left at $8.125 million. Robertson is a pending RFA who could be looking for something in the $10-12 million range. Knies is a 23-year-old power forward who has five years left at $7.75 million.
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The Blues asking price for Thomas at the deadline was a first-round pick, a top prospect, a quality prospect, and a young NHL forward. The Blackhawks could offer up Oilers’ 2027 first-rounder, Ryan Greene, Vaclav Nestrasil and Gavin Hayes. Teams asking for Anton Frondell or Roman Kantserov would be deal breakers for the Blackhawks.
Would the Blues or Stars even want to trade with a division rival? Would Thomas even waive for the Blackhawks?
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