Rumor: Blackhawks ready to make another big trade, “plenty of teams” making offers on top scorer

Chicago Blackhawks GM Kyle Davidson made a huge trade this past weekend shipping out high priced defenseman Seth Jones and a 4th round pick to the Florida Panthers in exchange for goaltender Spencer Knight and a 1st round pick.

Jones is just in year three of a massive eight year deal that pays him a whopping $9.5 million per season. It's important to note though that the Blackhawks retained $2.5 million per season on Jones' deal for next 5 seasons. So the Panthers get Jones at a more manageable $8 million per season for the next five seasons.

It was a whopper of a deal that benefits both the Blackhawks and the Panthers and now there are rumors that Davidson isn't done dealing just yet. After trading away his top defenseman in Jones, there are rumors that Davidson is now looking to trade his leading goal scorer.

NHL insider Kevin Weekes reports today that "plenty of teams" have inquired about the availability of 21 goal scorer and pending unrestricted free agent Ryan Donato.

From Weekes:

The 28 year old Donato is in the midst of a career season, scoring 21 goals and points in 58 games. His career high previous to this season was just 16 goals and 31 points in 74 games.

Donato is on a cheap contract paying him just $2 million this season and is a versatile two-way forward who can slot in up and down the lineup on almost any contending team. It makes sense that teams would be interested in him at the trade deadline and I could certainly see the team moving him for future assets.

You have to wonder with the Blackhawks though... at what point do they stop subtracting? 

They will likely hang on to veterans like Tyler Bertuzzi, Teuvo Teravainen and Nick Foligno beyond the deadline, but they've also walked away from so much talent in recent years. Will fellow pending UFA's Pat Maroon and Alex Martinez also be dealt at the deadline on Friday?