Here’s how the 2025 trade deadline will likely play out for the Blackhawks: Expect massive sales, and little, if any, big-name buys. But for the sake of having some fun, let’s brainstorm and talk about three players who are currently on the big board that Hawks general manager Kyle Davidson must at least bring to the Windy City.

And let’s be honest, Blackhawks fans, you’ll be more than optimistic about any of the three players mentioned below. But before I get started, I wanted to clarify that no, the Hawks won’t trade for all three of the players listed below.

They probably won’t acquire any of them, but that’s not the point of this article. Instead, this is simply going through the big board and contemplating three players the Hawks should seriously consider ‘buying’ if they don’t exclusively ‘sell.’

You’ll notice that all three of them boast similar characteristics in that they’re all youngsters. Youth was the primary decision-maker here as a young team like the Hawks could use more for their core. So, who should Davidson consider bringing to the Windy City?

Bowen Byram, Buffalo Sabres

Imagine if the Blackhawks sent Seth Jones elsewhere. Sure, it would open the door for a prospect, and it’s something I covered recently when I said the Hawks would be sellers and nothing else. But it would also raise the possibility that they’ll try and bring in another defenseman.

Enter Bowen Byram, who has seven goals, 22 assists, and 29 points on the year in 54 games. If you want more enthusiasm here, it’s that Byram also has a 10.6 shooting percentage, so he’s scoring in roughly every nine or 10 shots. Not bad for a blueliner.

Yeah, Byram can be reckless at times, and he’s had his fair share of injuries, which have translated into lost time. Still, he regularly logs top-four minutes, he gets in front of shots – 79 so far, and he’s laid out 57 body checks.

No, I’m not accusing Byram of being an upper-echelon blueliner, but imagine him on the same pairing as Artyom Levshunov when the latter’s playing in the NHL. Or Alex Vlasic. That should give fans enough motivation for the Hawks to pursue Byram, but if it isn’t there, I got a consolation in mind.

Mario Ferraro, San Jose Sharks

The downside with Mario Ferraro is that he’s not a two-way player like Bowen Byram, so chances are, he wouldn’t cost as much. Another downside is that the San Jose Sharks, being in a similar position to the Blackhawks, would be looking to snag picks and prospects, and they may be tough for Davidson to part with.

Regarding Bowen Byram, the Hawks could get away with trading an experienced veteran for the blueliner. The Sabres aren’t as bad as their points total shows, and that 13-game losing streak was more of a reflection of so many injuries hitting the team at once. In other words, Buffalo is a solid team with a bad points total, but that’s not the case with the Sharks.

Still, if Davidson’s fine with sending a prospect and a pick over, the Hawks are still getting one of the more serviceable blueliners in the league who’s been stuck playing for a bad hockey team. Yet he’s a top-four player who could complement a two-way blueliner, given his 117 hits and 81 blocks on the year.

Points-wise, Ferraro is weak, with just five goals and 11 points in 57 games, so again, don’t expect him to quarterback any power plays soon. Yet, the hard-hitting mentality he brings plus a new chance in a new city could take Ferraro’s game to another level.

Nick Robertson, Toronto Maple Leafs

I would never underestimate a trade like this, even if Nick Robertson hasn’t done much to warrant serious attention. He’s a youngster whose team he’s playing for happens to be stacked with high-octane talent, so I’m not surprised in any sense that he’s lacking productivity and is stuck on the lower lines.

And it’s why a trade like this could transform into a golden opportunity for a team like the Blackhawks. The Maple Leafs may want someone like Ryan Donato, but if that’s the case, they’d likely be willing to move Robertson along with a high-end prospect to get a depth scorer like Donato, and it could lead to long-term benefits for Chicago.

Through the last two seasons, Robertson, in 103 games, has just 39 points but 22 goals to go with it, and a 13.1 shooting percentage. That latter number is what entices me so much about Robertson. He’s proven to at least make himself useful as a decent depth scorer in Toronto, and there’s at least middle-six potential in Chicago.

Some fans may not understand a trade like this, but look to Arch City over in Missouri, and you’ll see the returns Dylan Holloway brought to the St. Louis Blues. If I’m not mistaken, Nick Robertson could end up in that same situation.