We’re now two days removed from the blockbuster deal that sent Brady Tkachuk to the Panthers to play with his brother in exchange for a bundle of first-round picks. Chicago Blackhawks fans have already taken to social media to express frustration, wondering why Kyle Davidson isn’t making these trades or acquiring a superstar.
The short answer: Tkachuk was likely never going to come to the Blackhawks. He had a full no-move clause, and reports indicate that he had a very short list of teams he would allow a trade with—of course, Florida was first on the list.
But that doesn’t mean that players suddenly “don’t want to come to Chicago.” Just because the Blackhawks haven’t been involved in recent moves like Tkachuk’s or the trade of Darren Raddysh doesn’t mean that they’re not an appealing destination. They enjoyed an 11-point jump in the 2025-26 season over the prior year, after improving by nine points from 2023-24. Now just 18 points from a wild-card spot, it wouldn’t be a huge surprise to see Chicago get back into the playoffs next spring. With 13 players aged 23 and younger in the starting lineup, the team will only improve from here—and that’s an exciting possibility for trade candidates going forward.
While Chicago is quickly becoming an appealing destination for players with no-trade clauses, there’s a decent chance they may not have to worry about that at all. On Tuesday, Emily Kaplan at ESPN reported that Toronto “continues to field calls on Matthew Knies. The Blackhawks have been interested for a while, as Knies (23) fits their age range to grow with Connor Bedard and the rest of their emerging core. The No. 4 pick from Chicago is absolutely in play.” Knies does not have a no-trade or no-move clause.
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I wrote shortly after the draft lottery that one potential trade for the Blackhawks would be Knies in exchange for the No. 4 pick, Oliver Moore, and a 2026 second-rounder. The sense around the league seems to be that the market has softened just a bit according to numerous reports. The Leafs’ winger would be a great fit on Bedard’s top line, lending a bit more physicality as a power forward. Chicago certainly has the resources to outbid any other team if Toronto is truly listening to offers.
But whether it’s Knies or another target like Mason McTavish, the Blackhawks will be a tempting franchise to play for, especially if the player has any sort of say in where they’re going. Sure, Chicago would’ve liked to be more active in the Tkachuk deal negotiations, but they were never a frontrunner to begin with. Next time a player has a chance to waive a no-move clause to come to Chicago, they’ll do it.
