Two trades completed between the Chicago Blackhawks and Vancouver Canucks show Kyle Davidson's skills as GM

Davidson, 37, took over the Blackhawks' rebuild fully in March 2022 after an interim stint, and his deal-making has become a talking point for fans and pundits alike. Wikipedia The recent one-sided trades with the Canucks underscore his willingness to find value wherever he can, even if it means exploiting mismatches with a struggling rival.

On June 26, 2024, Chicago swung a deal with Vancouver that now looks like a steal. The Blackhawks acquired veteran winger Ilya Mikheyev, forward Sam Lafferty, and a second-round pick in 2027 from the Canucks for a 2027 fourth-round pick.

It was a classic Davidson cap and asset play; Chicago shed salary while picking up a pick that should land in a valuable range given league depth. Vancouver got almost nothing back after giving up real roster talent and draft capital.

Just a few months ago, Chicago traded former first-rounder Lukas Reichel to Vancouver for that same 2027 fourth-rounder.

Reichel, the No. 17 pick in 2020 who posted career highs in goals (8) and assists (14) last season, barely made an impact for Vancouver before being placed on waivers. That outcome only underlines how badly that second trade tilted toward Chicago.

Fans in Chicago are loving it, viewing these back-to-back wins as evidence that Davidson isn't just cleaning up the roster; he's actually getting more than what he gives up. Vancouver fans, on the other hand, see a franchise hemorrhaging assets for little return while the roster flounders near the bottom of the standings.

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Of course trades happen all the time in the NHL, and not every pick becomes a star. But when two trades with the same opponent both end up looking tilted at the Blackhawks' favor, questions about comparative management strategies start to stick.

Davidson's stock as a GM capable of extracting value continues to rise, and his work with picks and affordable talent will be a storyline to track as Chicago pushes toward sustainable success.