The Montreal Canadiens traded forwards Dale Weise and Tomas Fleischmann to the Chicago Blackhawks on Friday. The Blackhawks are sending forward Phillip Danault and a second round pick in 2018 to the Canadiens, in exchange for the forwards.
In Weise, the Blackhawks get a legitimate bottom six forward that has shown he can mix physicality while still chipping in with more than his share of offense. Weise has 26 points in 56 games with Montreal this year, and while his offensive contribution will be appreciated, the depth of the Chicago lineup may call for Weise to take on a strictly checking role with the Blackhawks. Montreal will retain 30 percent of Weise's contract, according to General Fanager, giving the Blackhawks $140,447 US in projected cap space at the end of the season.
Fleischmann has 10 goals and 10 assists in 57 games this season, but has been a healthy scratch of late in Montreal. Fleischmann does have the ability play up or down the Chicago lineup and the supporting cast in Chicago could be the spark he needs to bring out his offensive ability, according to RotoWire.
Going the other way, the Canadiens acquired the former first round pick Danault and a second round pick in 2018. Canadiens GM Marc Bergevin was a member of the Chicago front office team that selected Danault 26th overall in 2011.
"Phillip Danault is a young and gifted player who will be part of our core group of young forwards for many years to come. I am very pleased to have him join our organization. As a member of the Blackhawks management group, I was instrumental in the selection of Phillip in the first round of the 2011 NHL Draft" Bergevin said, according to the Canadiens team site.
The Canadiens appear to have made the most of a bad situation, as the Habs went from cup contenders to trade deadline sellers seemingly overnight, but the club appears to have added pieces that it could build around. As for the Blackhawks, the additions GM Stan Bowman made this week make it clear it's Stanley Cup or bust in Chicago.
