The Chicago Blackhawks organization is haunted by a trade that has been complete
Photo credit: Ron Chenoy
The Chicago Blackhawks organization is haunted by a trade that has been complete
His synergy with Clayton Keller on the top line has been a cornerstone of the team's strategy.
The landscape of Schmaltz's career was forever altered on November 25, 2018, when the Coyotes struck a deal with the Blackhawks.
The trade involved sending Brendan Perlini and Dylan Strome to Chicago in exchange for Schmaltz.
This move aimed to provide a fresh start for all players involved, with hopes pinned on unlocking new potential.
Arizona and Chicago, under the stewardship of Bowman, had established a pattern of exchanges by this point, making Schmaltz just one of several players to migrate between the two teams around that time.
Notably, Vinnie Hinistroza, Richard Panik, and Jordan Oesterle had made similar transitions, bundled with Marian Hossa's cap hit in a package that included picks and other assets earlier that year.
In a notable transaction prior to the Schmaltz deal, January 2018 saw the Blackhawks trade Panik and Laurent Dauphin to Arizona in a swap for Adam Clendening and Anthony Duclair, signaling an ongoing rapport between the two franchises.
Drafted 20th overall by the Blackhawks in 2014, Schmaltz showed his prowess in the 2017-2018 season by scoring a career-high 52 points.
However, following a coaching change from Joel Quenneville to a new direction, his performance dipped, and he was traded after netting 11 points in 23 games.
Nick is a dynamic forward with top-line potential,» stated John Chayka, Arizona's general manager at the time of the trade. «We feel he can be a core player of our team now and into the future. He's a good complement to our evolving forward group and a rare combination of speed, skill, and creativity.
Despite facing injuries, Schmaltz has consistently performed well for the Coyotes, achieving a personal best in assists this year with 61 points across 79 games.
His influence extends beyond points; as a first-line center, he's a linchpin player for coach Andre Tourigny, demonstrating versatility by playing alongside various teammates.
Dylan Strome
Strome's tenure with the Blackhawks lasted four years, highlighted by a 51-point season shortly after his arrival.
However, his performance fluctuated, and by 2022 he had moved to the Washington Capitals, where he has since thrived, logging back-to-back 60+ point seasons.
This change of scenery seems to have unlocked the potential Chicago couldn't, indicating a misalignment in fit rather than capability.
Brendan Perlini
Perlini's stint with the Blackhawks was less impactful, marked by a lone standout performance�a hat-trick against the Coyotes.
His journey took him next to Detroit in exchange for Alec Regula, who similarly struggled to make an enduring mark with Chicago.
Reflecting on these transactions, it's evident that the Coyotes have leveraged this trade more effectively than the Blackhawks, marking a strategic win for Arizona and a series of missteps for Chicago.
This series of trades underscores the complex dynamics and gamble of player exchanges in professional sports.
For more details on Schmaltz's impact and the trade's breakdown, visit The Hockey Writers.
| POLL | ||
2 JUIN | 29 ANSWERS The Chicago Blackhawks organization is haunted by a trade that has been complete Were the Blackhawks successful or unsuccessful in this transaction? | ||
| Win | 12 | 41.4 % |
| Lose | 17 | 58.6 % |
| LIST OF POLLS | ||
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