Chicago Blackhawks 2026 trade deadline report card: Grading GM Kyle Davidson’s moves

In: Andrew Mangiapane, 2027 first-round pick, 2028 second-round pick, Derrick Pouliot, future considerations

Out: Nick Foligno, Connor Murphy, Jason Dickinson, Colton Dach, Aidan Thompson

Grade: B+

The Blackhawks were sellers once again. Blackhawks general manager Kyle Davidson added a few more early-round picks to his cupboard by acquiring first- and second-round selections from the Edmonton Oilers. That was beyond expectations heading into this week. Those draft picks now give the Blackhawks five first-round picks and seven second-round picks over the next three years.

Of course, that’s on top of the 11 first-round picks and five second-round picks he’s made over the previous four years. That means the Blackhawks will potentially make 16 first-round selections and 12 second-rounders in seven years. The rebuild hinges on the scouting and development of all those picks.

Davidson has a solid track record of acquiring players who struggled elsewhere and finding a way to rejuvenate them with the Blackhawks. The Vancouver Canucks sought to get rid of Dickinson in 2022, and they gave the Blackhawks a second-rounder to take him. Might Mangiapane be the next?

At 29 Mangiapane is young enough that a bounceback year or two isn’t out of the realm of possibility. If the Blackhawks put him with Connor Bedard, that could certainly improve the odds.

In trading Foligno, the Blackhawks wanted to do right by him. He’s been their captain for the past two seasons and has continually been a positive influence on the team’s young players and in delivering the team’s vision. Foligno’s former Blackhawks teammates were understanding about his leaving to play with his brother in Minnesota, too.

The Blackhawks made a late trade before the deadline, sending Aidan Thompson, a 24-year-old forward prospect, to the New York Rangers for 32-year-old defenseman Derrick Pouliot. The Blackhawks didn’t envision a spot for Thompson with so many other forward prospects coming in. He had six goals and nine assists in 40 games with the Rockford IceHogs this season.

The Blackhawks are looking at Pouliot as someone who can either play in the AHL or the NHL. With so many young defenders, they were likely going to add someone like that this offseason. Pouliot has mostly been in the AHL in recent years. He’s in the first year of a two-year deal and has a $775,000 cap hit.

Ilya Mikheyev was the only Blackhawks player who was thought to be on the trading block but wasn’t dealt. The Blackhawks recently offered him a multiyear contract to re-sign him, but he turned it down. It sounds like the Blackhawks could still be open to signing him if the sides can agree before free agency.

What they’re saying

“It was a little tough sledding there in Edmonton. I’m happy to get out and have a nice restart and be with a good organization here. Guys and group seem great, and everybody’s been welcoming, so it’s an exciting feeling.” — Andrew Mangiapane

“Obviously, one I’m happy for him. … I wish we were 10 points in and none of this happens, but we’re not and for an opportunity to go and play with your brother, be part of something with your brother — I have a brother and it would be an unbelievable thing. So I know that means a ton to him and his family. I know how important that is. And then for me personally, just he’s been awesome. Awesome for me, awesome for this organization, but for me personally, coming in this year, having a chance to try to create culture and with the help of (Connor) Murphy, ‘Dickey’ (Jason Dickinson), Bert (Tyler Bertuzzi), all our vets, we had just great papa bears who have helped these guys along, and Nick certainly led us in that. He’s been a great sounding board for me, been around the league a long time, so when I had things that I wanted to discuss and get a feel for from a player’s perspective, I could always lean on him. He’s an outstanding human being, one of the best I’ve been around, so I’ll miss him personally and we’ll miss him as a group.” — Jeff Blashill on trading Foligno

“It’s tough and sad when you lose those guys and motivates you to not be in this spot when you’re dealing with that. But yeah, in the span of a week, you lose four guys that are super important to the room. I know myself and everyone has close relationships with all of them. It’s hard, yeah. It’s hard. But it’s part of what we do.” — Connor Bedard

What it means for the Blackhawks lineup

Murphy and Dickinson especially filled key roles for the Blackhawks. Foligno was important to the team, but he was mostly in a fourth-line role this season. Dach had been given a chance to be on the top line early in the season, but he faded over time and was a healthy scratch at times lately.

The Blackhawks utilized Murphy mostly as a defensive situation defenseman. He had the lowest offensive zone faceoff starting percentage among the team’s defensemen, and he and Alex Vlasic had been the team’s primary defenseman penalty killers. Based on the first game without Murphy, it looks like Vlasic and Louis Creiver will get much more defensive responsibility. Crevier is a right-handed shot, like Murphy. Sam Rinzel, another right-handed shot, also got more five-on-five ice time last game.

The Blackhawks used Dickinson as a shutdown center. He faced opposing top lines, had the team’s second-lowest offensive zone faceoff starting percentage and was one of the main penalty killers. Oliver Moore and Ryan Greene, two NHL rookies, could get looks in that role.

Outside of Dickinson, Greene has taken the most defensive zone faceoffs for the Blackhawks. Greene has also spent a lot of time at wing alongside Bedard, so that could come into play. The Blackhawks prefer Moore at center over wing, but he hasn’t been utilized in much of a defensive role this season.

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