While the Rockford IceHogs find themselves right in the middle of the hunt for the Calder Cup Playoffs as the NHL trade deadline approaches, the Chicago Blackhawks continue slipping further out of reach of a wild card spot. The Blackhawks are in a position they haven’t found themselves in a long time, out of the hunt. With that in mind, there probably will be a number of trades that impact both the NHL and AHL rosters for the Blackhawks organization. Here is what the IceHogs currently have in the system that could be moved come February 26.
IceHogs Trade Piece: Cody Franson, Defenseman
Contract details: 1-year, $1.0M (expires end of 2017-18 season, UFA)
Rewind back to this last summer. The Blackhawks were in desperate need of help on the blue-line. With age catching up to some and not enough NHL experience available with others, the options for Chicago were thin. Enter Cody Franson. A free agent signing right at the beginning of the season, add Franson was thought to be a big move in the right direction for the Blackhawks defense.
Now it’s January 9, and the Blackhawks send Franson down to the IceHogs. A veteran of 550 NHL games and 212 NHL points, making a million dollars, down in the minors. Franson has voiced his displeasure and confusion behind the move to send him to Rockford, but has been a positive influence in the locker room for the IceHogs. In 10 games since joining Rockford, Franson has five points and has regularly been given a leadership role on a young IceHogs roster.
Cody Franson defends against the Ontario Reign. (Courtesy: Greg Hamil)
There’s little doubt that there is an NHL team out there that could use the experience and production that Franson can bring to the table. Especially with him being on a relatively cheap and expiring contract. Being a right-handed shot, the unicorn of NHL defensemen, Franson could be used as a sweetener in a larger-scale move, or could be used to fetch a middle or multiple lower-round draft picks.
IceHogs Trade Piece: Tanner Kero, Center
Contract details: 2-year, $1.5M (expires end of 2018-19 season, RFA)
While depth at the Center position is not a strong-point for the Blackhawks, there seems to be something off with their handling of Tanner Kero. A free agent signing out of Michigan Tech in 2015, Kero hasn’t found a permanent spot with the Blackhawks yet. Spending parts of the 2015-16 and 2016-17 seasons with the Blackhawks and IceHogs, Kero finally started to look like a solid option in a bottom-six role over this last summer. But he lost his spot quickly to Tommy Wingels on Chicago’s fourth-line group and couldn’t find a way to crack back into the spot.
It wouldn’t be until early December though when the Blackhawks finally decided to stop scratching him, and actually give him a shot at some ice-time with the IceHogs. Since re-joining Rockford, Kero has been put in all the key situations for the IceHogs and has 15 points over his 24 AHL games this season. At 25 years old, Kero is still young and still has the ability to play at an NHL level, but without the opportunity, he could find himself in an NHL-AHL limbo.
Tanner Kero defends against the Manitoba Moose. (Courtesy: Todd Reicher)
Kero could be a minor piece in a larger deal for the Blackhawks, or like Franson, could fetch a mid-to-low round pick in a smaller scale move. Being cost-controlled for the 2018-19 season, Kero could benefit from a change of scenery as the Blackhawks organization needs to either see more from Kero, or move him out to open up a spot for younger players that may have more upside that him.
IceHogs Trade Piece: Adam Clendening, Defenseman
Contract details: 1-year, $650K (expires end of 2017-18 season, RFA)
No, this is not a reboot of analysis from 2015. The Blackhawks reacquired Adam Clendening from the Arizona Coyotes as part of the Anthony Duclair–Richard Panik trade. Prior to re-joining the organization and making him comeback to the IceHogs, Clendening has spent the better part of the last two seasons being a nomad in the NHL and AHL. After being traded to the Vancouver Canucks in 2015, he finished the season with the organization in the AHL with the Utica Comets. Clendening spent part of the 2015-16 season with the Pittsburgh Penguins organization before again being traded, this time to the Edmonton Oilers. The 2016-17 season was spent entirely with the New York Rangers before signing with the Arizona Coyotes this summer and then making his way back to Chicago in early January.
To his credit, Clendening has never been a bad option as a fringe-NHL defenseman. With 86 NHL games under his belt, Clendening has proved he can play at the top-level, but his staying power has been the biggest question. In his career with the IceHogs, prior to re-joining the team on January 11, Clendening had 185 games played, 118 points, and was named an AHL All-Star in 2012-13 and 2013-14. This season with the IceHogs, Clendening has 10 points in 10 games.
Adam Clendening defends against the Bakersfield Condors. (Courtesy: Greg Hamil)
With a very cheap contract that expires at the end of the year, Clendening is an option for the Blackhawks to move as part of a bigger deal. The skill to be an option at the NHL level is there for Clendening, the problem is making sure that another NHL teams sees it too. If the Blackhawks decide not to flip Clendening after the acquisition in the Duclair-Panik trade, he could be a useful defenseman for the IceHogs as they attempt to make a Calder Cup Playoff push. But for the Blackhawks sake, it would be wise to get the most out of him on the trade market, wherever they can.