But what could Kane & Toews conceivably fetch in a trade? The teams that would want them will probably be contending for the Cup, so a 1st would be a late round 1st correct?
Toews will fetch a first.
Let’s be realistic- Toews was complete ass the beginning of last year but started to become Toews towards the end. A Cup contender will gladly pay a first next year for a guy with his pedigree at shutting down teams top lines when it counts.
This team right now can absorb cap. Toews at 50% retained would be an over the top move for any team looking to win a Cup. He still flips the ice with possession just with his faceoff ability alone. Toews with one job, stopping another teams top line, would be a luxury any contender would want and well worth a 5 million cap hit.
Toews has been over rated so long he’s now under rated.
And even a late first next year is valuable. You are looking at potential top six forwards with high floors two rounds deep. I’d gladly take a late first or high second for that matter for Toews.
The biggest positive in all this is Davidson knows he’s staring one good draft(2022), one unreal draft(2023) and one great draft(2024) right in the eyes and rebuilding at the right time. I’ve been saying all along tanking for Bedard is the best move for this franchise and now the Hawks have put themselves in a great position by shuttling away all the talent that will keep them in that bottom half of the top ten instead of fully embracing being bad for a couple years.
I officially stop being a hawks fan if they get the first overall pick next year and don’t take Bedard
