Chicago Blackhawks load up for run at 2nd straight Cup

A day after the Blackhawks traded for Andrew Ladd, they kept making moves before Monday’s trade deadline and dealt defenseman Rob Scuderi to the Kings for defenseman Christian Ehrhoff.

“Phillip Danault is a young and gifted player who will be part of our core group of young forwards for many years to come”, said Bergevin in a statement.

Weise and Fleischmann will bring some more veteran depth to the Blackhawks’ forward group, which is something head coach Joel Quenneville was openly hoping for as the team aims to make another title run. Already in 2015-16, Weise has 14 goals, 12 assists (26 points) in 56 games, marking his best point-per-game pace of his career (and highest goal total).

Why the Blackhawks made the trade: They were looking to strengthen their secondary scoring, and make themselves harder to play against. Ehrhoff, 33, had 10 points (two goals, eight assists) in 40 games with Los Angeles this season.

Weise is now playing in the final season of a two-year, $2 million contract he signed prior to last season.

Danault, 23, from Victoriaville, has one goal and five assists in 32 career games with the Blackhawks. That same season, he was named the league’s top defensive forward and played for Canada at the 2011 world junior championship. “I think the challenge is trying to weigh what it’s going to take to get the deal done”. Both players (Weise and Fleischmann) can step in and be role players down the stretch. The additions of Weise and Fleischmann should improve Chicago’s bottom six forwards down the stretch and into the playoffs, and the price wasn’t outrageous. We work our asses off. We never quit.

The Chicago Blackhawks are making a serious push for the Stanley Cup. Danault was the 26th overall pick by the Blackhawks back in the 2011 draft and has enjoyed success at the QMJHL level but has had some trouble adjusting his game to the minors.

Chicago still has some concerns on the back end, but that was also true last season and it didn’t matter.

Tomas Fleischmann and Dale Weise are headed to Chicago.