The 2024-25 NHL season for the Chicago Blackhawks has been really underwhelming. In the central division, they are the bottom team currently, with 35 points in 48 games. This has been another campaign with no sign of improvement for one of the most historic teams in the league, and their fans are indeed disappointed. 

However, in the mid-season, a massive three-team trade happened involving the Blackhawks, the Colorado Avalanche, and the Carolina Hurricanes. Indeed, many notable ones were traded from one to the other, but with the Blackhawks already struggling in the current season, they not only gave up one of their experienced players but also took on a certain $4.5 million responsibility during this mid-season trade, leaving fans in a frustrated and confused state.

So what exactly happened in this three-team trade? The official NHL X profile posted, stating. “WE’VE GOT A BLOCKBUSTER. Mikko Rantanen and Taylor Hall are heading to the @Canes in exchange for Martin Necas and more!” Indeed, this announcement was a significant development during the mid-season period. No one in the community expected these teams to get involved in such a huge trade, but there were rumors about it, and now they have come true.

In the trade, the Carolina Hurricanes received Mikko Rantanen, Taylor Hall, and Nils Juntorp. The Chicago Blackhawks received a 2025 third-round pick. And for the Colorado Avalanche, they received Martin Necas, Jack Drury, a 2025 2nd-round pick, and a 2026 4th-round pick. All these players have demonstrated their abilities in the NHL through their previous performances, and this entire trade surprised the community. 

Sometimes mid-season trades are common in the NHL scene, but rarely does such a high-value trade take place with so much at stake. But what did the Blackhawks really gain from this? They even gave away their forward, Taylor Hall, to the Hurricanes. However, Chicago did earn that 2025 3rd-round pick from the Hurricanes and retained 50% of Mikko Rantanen’s salary. And how much is that? It’s around $4.5 million, and it’s not a profit for the Blackhawks; it’s more of a responsibility.

Indeed, this retention has increased the Blackhawks’ salary cap obligations, and as they are currently rebuilding the entire franchise, it could potentially be a valuable asset in the future. They are also not getting Rantanen into the team anytime soon, so this particular retention doesn’t affect any of their junior programs that involve top prospects who might potentially join them in the coming seasons. It may have been a smart move from Chicago, but fans were still unhappy with them and quite surprised by this trade.

The NHL community didn’t expect the Chicago Blackhawks to be there

Complex emotions were everywhere in the NHL community after they learned about this three-team trade. However, many fingers pointed toward the Chicago Blackhawks, but not in a good way, as one fan stated, “WTF.” Formally, this user was just confused, stating, “Please explain what the Hawks are doing here?” Similarly, another fan stated, “Do not understand the logic behind the hawks doing this trade!!! Can someone fill me in?”

Losing Taylor Hall in the process might be difficult for the Blackhawks, as he was one of the most experienced players in their current roster. Indeed, Hall has been in the NHL since the 2010-11 season, and he joined Chicago back in the 2023-24 season after his three-year stint with the Boston Bruins. For the NHL star, this will be one more team, and he will try to make the most out of it.

A Chicago Blackhawks fan surely looks disappointed, stating, “Chicago, I’m not even gonna say anything.” Similarly, another fan left a comment, stating, “I’m not sure Chicago benefits from this at all.” Another fan is also confused, stating, “Was that a smart move by Chicago?”

Such massive trades between three teams in the NHL do tend to cause a lot of discussion in the community. And why wouldn’t it? So many star players were traded, and now a team also has some place left for its prospects to join in and prove themselves on the ice. With all the anticipation around the current season, this mid-season trade just made it more intriguing for the fans ahead of the Stanley Cup playoffs.