The Chicago Blackhawks currently enjoy an embarrassment of riches at nearly every position on their roster. At forward, Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews lead a group that's rounding into elite form, thanks in large part to Kane's rejuvenation after an offseason of anger and ill-will and the continued development of younger players like Artemi Panari, Teuvo Teravainen and Marko Dano. On the back end, Duncan Keith recently returned to the Hawks lineup looking very much like he never left. Trevor van Riemsdyk has continued to grow into a larger role alongside Brent Seabrook and Michal Rozsival joined Trevor Daley on the third pairing.
Considering the organizational depth, it's not surprising then that Blackhawks GM Stan Bowman has reportedly made a player like Daley available in trade. Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman reported Tuesday, as part of his last "30 Thoughts" offering, that Daley very much "could be had."
Unfortunately, it sounds like the term left on Daley's current deal - $3.3 million for this season and next - will be a serious impediment to any trade this season. While teams like the Ottawa Senators and Columbus Blue Jackets are hard on the trail of potential blueline additions, Daley's cost and the years remaining on his deal may ultimately prove prohibitive.
Of course, there's also his limited production, especially offensively - he's got no goals and just three assists through 18 games at an average of just over 16 minutes of ice time per night - that could keep teams from biting.
Still, Daley's a good, not great, player who has taken first and second pairing minutes in the past. Of course, those situations didn't seem to work out particularly well for Daley or the team that gave them to him, but he's certainly experienced.
A former second-round pick, there's no denying Daley's and despite his limited career production outside of last season in Dallas and his advancing age - 32 - it wouldn't be shocking to see another team take a chance on him with the expectation that they'll be able to get more out of his skillset than Chicago has.
But really, it says quite a bit about the Blackhawks that their third pairing defender could, and very possibly may, wind up seeing second pairing minutes for another NHL franchise this season.
