The 2022-23 NHL season is the first full campaign for the Chicago Blackhawks under general manager Kyle Davidson’s roster rebuild. After a promising start, they sit last in the overall standings with eight wins in 36 games entering their Jan. 3 contest with the Tampa Bay Lightning.

When Davidson took over last March as Blackhawks GM on a full-time basis, he wasted little time beginning to overhaul the roster. Prior to the March 21 trade deadline, he shipped out goaltender Marc-André Fleury and forwards Brandon Hagel and Ryan Carpenter for young players and draft picks.

Davidson wasn’t done. During the 2022 NHL draft in Montreal (July 7-8), he made several moves, most notably trading forwards Alex DeBrincat and Kirby Dach for draft picks, including two first-rounders.

The Blackhawks carry six picks in the first three rounds of the 2023 and 2024 drafts. However, Davidson isn’t likely done stocking up with draft picks or young players. As the March 3 trade deadline approaches, he could peddle another handful of veterans for future assets.

Two trade candidates could be Blackhawks stars Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews. Both players form the foundation upon which the club built the core of its three Stanley Cup champions between 2010 and 2015. With those glory days well in the past, Kane and Toews could be used as trade chips to bring in the next generation of Blackhawks stars.

Here’s our take on four trade scenarios that could benefit the Blackhawks as well as their trade partners. 

Andreas Athanasiou to the Minnesota Wild

Last month, The Athletic’s Michael Russo and Joe Smith pondered how Minnesota Wild general manager Bill Guerin would find another top-six forward. Blackhawks winger Andreas Athanasiou was among Smith’s proposed options.

Athanasiou, 28, is a speedy winger who tallied a career-best 30 goals in 2018-19 with the Detroit Red Wings. Injuries hampered his performance over the following three seasons. He’s been healthy but streaky this season with the Blackhawks, tallying eight goals and 12 points in 35 games seeing third-line duty.

The Wild will have a projected $16.6 million in cap space at the trade deadline. They can afford to take a chance on Athanasiou to regain his offensive consistency thanks to his affordable one-year, $3 million contract. That would leave them room to add another player if necessary.

An improved effort by Athanasiou in the coming weeks could bolster his trade value. He won’t bring a first- or second-rounder to the Blackhawks but could fetch a third- or fourth-round pick. The Wild have traded their 2023 third-rounder but could offer their 2024 fourth-rounder since the Blackhawks lack a similar pick in that draft year.

Max Domi to the Dallas Stars

In a Dec. 16 mailbag, Matthew DeFranks of the Dallas Morning News speculated that Dallas Stars general manager Jim Nill could make a move to bolster the second forward line if he can free up sufficient cap room. DeFranks suggested the Blackhawks’ Max Domi as an under-the-radar addition.

Domi, 27, is on a one-year contract with an affordable $3 million cap hit. He’s enjoying a fine season with the rebuilding Blackhawks, sitting among their leading scorers with 11 goals and 24 points in 36 games. On Dec. 24, NBC Sports Chicago’s Charlie Roumeliotis pointed out that Domi’s strength in the faceoff circle could make him more enticing in the trade market.

Domi seemed certain to be shopped at the trade deadline when he signed his one-year contract last summer. However, Sportsnet’s Jeff Marek reported Saturday that’s no longer a slam dunk, and he indicated Domi’s agent and Blackhawks management have had discussions about his future in Chicago.

Nevertheless, the Blackhawks could listen if Dallas made a suitable offer. The Stars lack a first-round pick in this year’s draft, but perhaps they’ll part with a second-rounder. They have limited cap space, but the Blackhawks could retain half of Domi’s salary and also acquire a player on an expiring contract to make the dollars fit.