The 2025 NHL Draft will be here before you know it. The Stanley Cup Final between the Edmonton Oilers and Florida Panthers is still finishing up, but that won’t stop folks around the league from speculating what could happen during the off-season.
Of course, the draft will allow teams to make selections that they hope will change their franchise forever. The other two ways to impact your organization are free agency or trades. For the Chicago Blackhawks, trading for difference makers may be the wise move.
Of all the players on the block around the league, the Blackhawks are likely going to be paying attention to forwards the most. They have youthful depth on defense, and Spencer Knight is in place as the starting goalie. Scorers to help Connor Bedard are at the top of Kyle Davidson’s list.
Draft season is a time when trades are made more frequently. The Blackhawks have assets going into the draft that they can use to land one or two of their targets. These are the players worth making a call on before June 27th:
1. JJ Peterka
JJ Peterka of the Buffalo Sabres has arrived as a top-line level player in the NHL. During the 2024-25 season, he had 27 goals and 41 assists for 68 points in 77 games played. His defensive numbers weren't half bad either, which is saying something considering it was another miserable year for the Sabres.
The Blackhawks are getting dangerously close to catching Buffalo in the rebuilding process, which is sad based on how long the Sabres have been at it. Coming to Chicago to play left wing alongside Connor Bedard may be worth the change of scenery for Peterka, who now has two good seasons under his belt and is just 23 years old.
The Sabres didn't want to move on from Peterka ahead of the 2025 NHL Trade deadline, but the looming chance of an offer sheet may make them reconsider before the draft. Kyle Davidson may find it difficult to find a better player on the block this summer.
2. Marco Rossi
Like Peterka, Marco Rossi of the Minnesota Wild had a great year in 2023-24 before having his true breakout year in 2024-25. Playing top-line level minutes at times for the Wild this season, Rossi took his game to the next level in all three zones.
He was on a much better team than Peterka, but he played his role to perfection. Making an impact on a playoff-caliber team isn't easy at his age, and he succeeded. Now, Rossi is a restricted free agent looking to be paid.
The Wild have a lot of players to get signed in the coming years, so Rossi could end up being a cap casualty right before it starts to skyrocket. The Blackhawks should be one of the teams checking in on him. Despite being division rivals, Minnesota and Chicago have things that the other needs.
Placing Rossi, who had 24 goals and 36 assists for 60 points in 82 games while playing a sound defensive game, with all of the young prospects that Chicago has acquired, would help elevate both him and the team.
3. Chris Kreider
Peterka and Rossi are young players who are seeking to take their careers to the next level, even if it means moving on from the team that drafted them.
Well, what about a veteran who has spent his entire career with one team? That is the status of Chris Kreider, whose time as a New York Rangers player may be coming to an end.
During a disappointing 2024-25 season, the Rangers traded away players as sellers. They also acquired JT Miller in an attempt to get back in the race at one point, but it didn't work.
Despite being in some of the rumors, they never moved on from Kreider, who has two years left on his deal, making $6.5 million.
At 33 years old, Kreider had 22 goals and 8 assists for 30 points in 68 games played. He fell out of favor with New York at times, including being a healthy scratch for the first time in his career.
If a team like the Chicago Blackhawks acquired Kreider for some help up front and in the leadership department, he may see a rise in his production again. This is a guy who can be counted on for at least 20 goals a season, a plateau he has reached in seven straight seasons and 10 of his last 11.
Whether it was in a depth role or being a net-front guy with Connor Bedard, there is value that he could provide to a team like the Blackhawks. It wouldn't cost that much to trade for him either.
Kyle Davidson may only want to acquire youth, but he hasn't been shy about adding vets in the past. With Pat Maroon and Alec Martinez retiring, Seth Jones and Taylor Hall already gone, and the future of guys like Connor Murphy and Jason Dickinson in question, a player like Kreider could be useful both on and off the ice.
Honorable mentions include players like Vladimir Tarasenko, Erik Haula, and David Kampf, who would all provide something to the forward group via trade. There is a mix of experience and youth to consider this year when it comes to making pre-draft trades. Transactions are coming in Chicago.
Visit The Hockey News Chicago Blackhawks team site to stay updated on the latest news, game-day coverage, player features, and more.