The Chicago Blackhawks announced that they will be sending forward Nick Schmaltz to the Arizona Coyotes in exchange for forwards Brendan Perlini and Dylan Strome, in a move that should give all three players opportunities to develop in new environments.
All three players involved are recent first round picks that have yet to fully live up to their potential, with both teams likely hoping that they’ll be able to make more of the players coming their way.
Blackhawks Deal Schmaltz Before Free Agency
By moving the 22-year-old Schmaltz, the Blackhawks are getting rid of a player that will likely command a multi-million dollar contract when he becomes a restricted free agent at the end of the season. Schmaltz was the 20th overall pick in the 2014 draft, and appeared to be making strides towards become a star last year when he scored 21 goals and tallied 31 assists for Chicago.
But so far this year, Schmaltz has only compiled two goals and nine assists, leading to persistent rumors that the Blackhawks might look to move him this year. Arizona is hoping that Schmaltz can recapture last season’s form and continue his rise towards becoming a dependable top-six forward.
“Nick is a dynamic forward with top-line potential,” Arizona general manager John Chayka said in a statement. “We feel he can be a core player of our team now and into the future. He’s a good complement to our evolving forward group and a rare combination of speed, skill, and creativity.”
Strome, Perlini Yet to Fulfill Potential
In exchange for Schmaltz, Arizona is sending two young players who could develop into useful members of the Chicago roster.
The 21-year-old Strome was the third overall pick in 2015, but has yet to contribute much at the NHL level. In three years, he has played just 48 games, scoring seven goals during that time. This is the first year in which he has been a regular member on the Coyotes NHL roster, scoring three goals and adding three assists in 20 games.
Meanwhile, Perlini is a 21-year-old from Guildford, England, who has gotten off to a slow start this season after two promising campaigns at the NHL level. While he scored 30 points last season, Perlini has just two goals and six assists in 22 games so far in the 2018-19 campaign.
The trade comes as both teams are looking to turn around their seasons before it becomes too late to make a potential playoff push. The Blackhawks are sixth in the Central Division, while the Coyotes sit in seventh place in the Pacific after losing their last four games in a row.
Oddsmaker don’t see much chance of either team making a title run this season. William Hill lists both teams at 50/1 to win the Stanley Cup in 2019, putting them near the bottom of the league in terms of their championship chances.