In a last second before the 2012 NHL Trade Deadline deal, the Blackhawks sent their main protector, defenseman John Scott to the New York Rangers. TSN reports the Blackhawks received a fifth-round pick in exchange for Scott. Getting rid of Scott leaves the Hawks without a true “enforcer” to retaliate against the hits that will be made against Hawks star forwards Jonathan Toews, Patrick Sharp, and Patrick Kane.
It also negates deal made earlier in the day in terms of upgrading their defensemen depth.
Johnny Oduya was traded to the Chicago Blackhawks on 2012 NHL Trade Deadline day from the Winnipeg Jets in exchange for a second-round pick and a third-round pick, each in the 2013 NHL draft.
It’s rare that a team still in the postseason race trades away someone who really matters to their blue line depth for just draft picks, but that’s what the Jets have done in trading the defenseman Oduya.
Oduya earns $3.5 million against the salary cap and will be an unrestricted free agent this summer. The number one need for the Hawks entering today was obviously D, and they ended up with a wash. They acquired a good stay-at-home guy who will address a need (but likely not do much offensively). However, they also opened up a new hole for themselves on the same day.
So overall, they’re pretty much back where they started.
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