The Chicago Blackhawks today acquired a defenseman Nikita Zaytsev trade, and it looks like they might match that deal by shipping a blueliner soon. David Bagnotta of the fourth period reports Trade talks surround Blackhawks blueliner Jack McCabe “Heated” and it is a “when not, if it has moved” scenario. We recently detailed how several suitors have expressed interest in the 29-year-old and how the asking price is said to be a first-round pick.
His deal helps the Blackhawks’ potential first-round pick for McCabe, as well as his apparent willingness to sacrifice cap space in the short term to add draft picks. McCabe is contracted through 2024-25 with a $4 million salary cap, but the Blackhawks could cut that salary cap in half and offer McCabe $2 million to teams if they choose to withhold the maximum portion of his salary.
Adding McCabe for $2MM against the cap for this season and two more is a very attractive prospect for teams with multiple defensive needs.
He can reliably play in the first four minutes at a bargain price, and in today’s environment, where cap space is an absolute premium, that kind of capital gain will be highly coveted.
One of the main reasons the Tampa Bay Lightning paid out first-round picks to players like Barclay Goodrow AND blake coleman Because those players were tied up for some time under cheap contracts. It seems clear that at least one first-round pick with some retention would be a reasonable request if we use the additional value assigned to those players due to contracts to guide the assessment of McCabe’s trade value.
david savard AND Ben Chiarot Both earn their club a first-round pick (and more) via trade, so when you consider how well McCabe is playing despite difficult circumstances and capital gains, he’ll be worth $2 million in space under the salary cap for two more years. A first round should be a no-brainer for a handful of interested teams.
While McCabe’s offensive production hasn’t jumped off the page, he has improved his numbers compared to last season. He is averaging nearly 20 minutes a night and contributing to the Blackhawks’ penalty kick. He could handle a similar role on a contending team, and he should be a name to reckon with both Blackhawks fans and fans of teams rumored to be interested in acquiring a defenseman.
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