Blackhawks Trade Chatter: Trevor Zegras on the Radar; Marner Rumors

For those Chicago Blackhawks fans keeping tally at home, it’s been Patrik Laine, Martin Necas, and Jake Guentzel as some of the names orbiting the trade rumors with the Hawks in the middle. Now Trevor Zegras can be added to it.

The Fourth Period’s Dave Pagnotta with the news that the Blackhawks are one of at least teams interested in Zegras’ services but the price would be steep.

Which is to be expected when like Connor Bedard, one can bury a Michigan goal or emulate his hero in Patrick Kane before he’s a prominent name in the league.

Trevor Zegras said he tries modeling his game after Patrick Kane. And it shows. Wow. #Blackhawks pic.twitter.com/u6Yzxgxi3E

— Charlie Roumeliotis (@CRoumeliotis) December 30, 2019

Zegras is no surprise here–trade rumors have been bubbling about him going back to December. But based on Pagnotta’s report, it’s a crowded room of suitors if indeed Zegras is open to a move.

But that price would be steep. There’s likely a lot of untapped potential for a guy on a rebuilding team. Slot him in next to the game’s next generational talent in Bedard and it would be something to behold for Blackhawks fans.

That doesn’t come cheap. If indeed the Blackhawks are interested, expect first-round picks and at least a top prospect with Pagnotta adding that the exact price hasn’t been named.

Why would it? Anaheim general manager Pat Verbeek can pit teams against one another. The Blackhawks have a wealth of prospects and picks if they want to use them to acquire Zegras.

With that in mind, however, another interesting bit of news dropped regarding potential trade targets.

Trevor Zegras Isn’t The Only Big Name Out There Right Now

Another interesting bit of chatter coming out is that Mitch Marner and the Maple Leafs might be at an impasse of sorts. Per the Daily Faceoff’s Frank Seravalli, he reported on the JD Bunkis podcast that Marner may very well be on the move. He believes the Maple Leafs have no intention of re-signing him after this season and they are very much having conversations.

So when it comes to a trade, what does Seravalli think?

“This is the week. If it’s gonna happen, there’s a strong likelihood it happens this week,” he told Bunkis. Seravalli lays out his thinking as to why the Leafs are likely looking to deal but also that Marner ultimately holds the power with a no-movement clause in the final year of his deal.

It’s not exactly a flattering listen if you’re pro-Marner to the Blackhawks. Another interesting snippet:

“This is a guy that can’t handle the playoffs,” Seravalli said.  “This is one of the most sensitive in the league in terms of coverage. How’s it going to work out for him next year when the Leafs tell everyone: ‘Yeah, we tried to move him but he said no.'”

While the Hawks aren’t specifically linked, it’s another of several interesting names out there that could be a major asset. Is it buyer’s beware, Blackhawks fans? Or simply in the wrong spot?

Cost factors in for sure, but between Trevor Zegras, Mitch Marner, Martin Necas, and Jake Guentzel, the rumor merry-go-round keeps spinning while everyone waits to see where it stops.