By guest blogger Mark Jenkins
The Chicago Blackhawks were forced to make a pretty tough decision over the weekend when they traded fantasy hockey stud Nick Leddy to the New York Islanders. In return, they were only able to get prospects back, meaning that the team needs to find a way to replace the talented defenseman. So who will Chicago rely on the most to avoid a drop off?
First things first, Chicago really did not want to get rid of the talented youngster. It was a move that they had to make in order to get under the salary cap. That will give them more flexibility going forward, but they are hoping that it does not hurt their short-term chances of winning another Stanley Cup championship.
The simplest way to break down this move is to say that they pretty much switched out Leddy for Brad Richards. Earlier in the summer, the team signed the veteran Richards to a $2 million contract to give them a little bit more experience. They do not play the same position, but he was a newcomer making pretty much the same amount of money.
Chicago will be counting on a few defensemen that they have signed in recent memory to fill the void. They decide to give Michal Rozsival a two-year extension after the 2013 season, and they also traded for David Rundblad. Those 2 players make enough money to put this team over the salary cap without getting rid of someone like Leddy. It is a calculated risk management is taking, and general manager Stan Bowman is hoping that it is the right move.
In the Western Conference, there are going to be a bunch of teams fighting for a chance to make it to the Stanley Cup finals. It is not automatically a failure if Chicago does not make it to the Stanley Cup finals, but people start to question the moves the team is making if they continue to underachieve. This is a pretty big season for the Chicago Blackhawks, and hopefully this small move does not come back to bite them in the postseason.