Blackhawks center Jason Dickinson is prepared for possible trade: ‘My game is well-built for playoffs’
WINNIPEG, Manitoba — Jason Dickinson felt the absence of just-traded defenseman Connor Murphy around the Blackhawks on Tuesday morning.
“It feels weird,” the veteran center said. “The presence of him was hard to quantify because he was just so steady and so reliable in so many ways — not just on the ice but as a leader in the room. You could always look to Murph.”
Dickinson also felt the spotlight of trade speculation shifting from Murphy to himself.
Two days from the NHL trade deadline Friday, Hawks general manager Kyle Davidson is likely exploring the market for Dickinson and Ilya Mikheyev, forwards whose defensive acumen could appeal to playoff contenders.
Davidson knows he needs to free up roster spots for prospects coming into the league. Dickinson knows Davidson knows that.
“It’s been on the radar for the better part of a month now,” Dickinson said. “Everybody is obviously wondering about the situation, given that I have an expiring contract. It’s a natural progression in the league.
“Whether something is going to happen or not, I truly don’t know. But I know Kyle will be clear and upfront with me when something does come to him or if they’re pursuing something. He’s been nothing but world-class with me. The next three days could be interesting.”
Dickinson has been traded twice before — from the Stars to the Canucks in July 2021 and from the Canucks to the Hawks in October 2022 — but never at the deadline. It’s a new experience for him, trying to compartmentalize uncertainty about the future while still regularly playing games.
If he does get dealt, Tuesday night’s game against the Jets will have been his final appearance as a Hawk.
“[Dickinson is] a great human, really even-keeled, got a great head on his shoulders, very self-accountable, looks in the mirror every day and wants to better himself,” coach Jeff Blashill said. “He’s been a really good piece for us. We’ll see what happens. I have no control over that, and neither does he.
“I wish we were 10 points [into a playoff spot]. If we were 10 points in, we wouldn’t have to talk about this stuff. But that’s the goal next year.”
Dickinson wishes the same. It’s hard for him to believe he hasn’t been in the playoffs since 2019 and 2020, his first two full NHL seasons.
A silver lining of getting traded — just like it is for Murphy now with the Oilers — is the possibly of ending that drought.
“I had older guys [with the Stars] tell me, ‘Savor it, because you may never get this chance again,’ ” Dickinson said. “I didn’t believe them at the time. Here I am, six years later, and I haven’t seen the playoffs since.
“You have to savor those moments because the playoffs are [expletive] hard to get into, and winning a round is really hard to do. When you get the opportunity, appreciate it and realize what you just accomplished. So, if I got the chance, I would be more than thrilled.”
The Kings are one team to watch for interest. They have closely scouted the Hawks, and Davidson reportedly attended the Kings-Avalanche game Monday in Los Angeles.
They’re far from assured to make the playoffs, but it would make sense to try to make a push in Anze Kopitar’s final season, especially after acquiring Artemi Panarin. Injuries to Kevin Fiala and Andrei Kuzmenko have depleted their forward depth.
The Wild and Hurricanes are two other teams potentially seeking help at center.
“I think my game is well-built for playoffs,” Dickinson reasoned. “It’s simple. It’s direct. Teams can want something like that to bolster depth and give them strength on the [penalty kill] instead of big-fish hunting for a dynamic player.”
Boisvert’s performance at Boston University hasn’t lived up to expectations, but the Hawks still plan to sign him imminently, believing his hard-nosed game could fit well in the NHL.
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The Hawks’ agonizing 3-2 defeat Tuesday marked the ninth time this season they’ve conceded a game-tying or game-winning goal in the last four minutes of the third period.
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Murphy now has a good chance to compete in the playoffs for the first time, while the Hawks should be pleased with the return of a second-round draft pick.
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