On the Chicago Blackhawks …
Pierre LeBrun: The Blackhawks could look to move up in the first round tonight depending on how it unfolds. They may make their decision on the floor.
Chris Kuc of the Chicago Tribune: (written before the Hjalmarsson and Panarin trades) The Chicago Blackhawks currently hold the No. 26 pick in the draft, one that is being held in the United Center in Chicago.
A source is saying that the Blackhawks are looking for a trade that would see them move up in the draft.
The source said that “there is no way” that they’ll let their fans wait until the No. 26 pick. It could happen during the draft, with them packaging the 26th pick with another pick to move up.
The source did add that it’s not easy to do “but you never know until you get on the (draft) floor.”
The Blackhawks other picks are numbers 57, 90, 119, 135, 144, 150, 170, 181, 215
Brian Hedger: Spoke with some agents and none of them heard any rumors of the Panarin-Saad trade, including Panarin’s own agent: “They kept a pretty good lid on it.”
Scott Powers: League source saying he still believes that Marcus Kruger will likely be traded by the Blackhawks.
Pierre LeBrun: Kruger is owed a $2 million signing bonus on July 1st, so not sure if that is a factor in him not being trade yet.
Craig Morgan: Not sure where Marian Hossa‘s contract could end up, but it doesn’t look like it would be with the Coyotes.
Chris Hine: Source saying yesterday that the market for the Blackhawks moving Hossa’s contract wasn’t a good one.
Andy Strickland: T.J. Oshie could be an Artemi Panarin replacement on Patrick Kane‘s line. Oshie may have to take less money but the Blackhawks could try selling a chance to win.
Chris Hine: It would be hard for the Blackhawks to fit Oshie in unless they were able to move Hossa’s rights. If Hossa were to LTIR’ed, it likely wouldn’t happen.