The Vegas Golden Knights will face an opponent on Thursday that has lofty expectations. They have the prodigal son (at least that's what we're told) in Connor Bedard and cap space galore ($18,068,386 currently, to be exact). There are also a load of draft picks to set Bedard up for success with 25 picks in the next three years.
Are the Chicago Blackhawks... back? Is it time to cue up "Chelsea Dagger" at the United Center again? Well, not so fast. They reside in the Central Division basement with 41 points (17-34-7 record) and are 23 points out of a playoff spot. Windy City residents are stuck with watching their hockey team rebuild while waiting for baseball season (for Cubs fans, at least).
Nobody wants to watch the Bulls play basketball, either. That's as painful as a live tooth extraction with no anesthesia. Have you considered selling the team yet, Jerry Reinsdorf? It would benefit the city of Chicago if you stayed away from sports. But that's not what we're here for today.
The Blackhawks are coming to town for a Thursday night matinee with the Golden Knights. That means fans will see Alec Martinez once more. If you don't know who the defenseman is, he's the guy who won the Stanley Cup with the 2022-23 team. He signed a one-year, $4 million deal with Chicago in the summer, providing veteran leadership on the blue line.
Considering there's another fire sale in the United Center, it's worth seeing who will be available come the trade deadline. Let's say Kelly McCrimmon is true to his word and doesn't make a splash. Will he look at Chicago for players? Could fans see a reunion with Martinez for one more Stanley Cup run? Here are three names to watch for.
Ryan Donato
Ryan Donato is the leading goal-scorer for the Chicago Blackhawks this season. He has 19 goals and also has 19 assists to boot. Two of those goals and seven of those assists came on the power play, giving the unit even more depth. He's extremely elusive and fluid on the attack, making him a fit in the Vegas Golden Knights transition game. The former Kraken player can also create rebounds for his teammates (21 rebounds created in the past two seasons).
That's not the only benefit you're getting with the winger. He's also 28 years old and has a $2 million cap hit. Donato also comes without a no-trade clause, making him open season for all interested parties. If Kelly McCrimmon wanted to put him on a prove-it deal like Brandon Saad, he could get plenty of value by buying low here.
Alec Martinez
Yes, the Golden Knights have plenty of defensemen to fill Shea Theodore's void while he heals from his wrist injury. Names like Ben Hutton and Kaeden Korczak can step in while the 4 Nations representative for Team Canada rests. However, there's one reason why reuniting with Alec Martinez makes sense: Blocked shots.
Vegas ranks 11th in team blocked shots with 921. While that's good, why not bring back an old friend to add more defense and fill a void? He might be slowing down in the department with 71 blocked shots this season, making this trade a long shot. However, you can't deny the benefits of adding a veteran depth piece who plays pure defense.
Nick Foligno
Nick Foligno might be 37 years old and close to retiring. He's also not the same goal-scorer he once was. However, he's having a nice season from a scoring standpoint (considering his age). He has 11 goals and 14 assists in 2024-25, giving Connor Bedard another healthy scoring option.
He also has a friendly cap hit of $4.5 million that carries over to next season. Considering Saad is fitting in nicely within the lineup, it's worth considering Foligno if McCrimmon wants to refrain from making a splash. Wing has been a position that could be improved throughout the season. Why not add one more to the mix and bolster the unit?