Chicago Blackhawks' Top Trade Candidate This Season

It is fairly obvious who the top two trade candidates for the Chicago Blackhawks are this season, but which of the two long-time Blackhawks' veterans is more likely to be traded?

In terms of skill right now, Patrick Kane provides more bang per buck. He leads all forwards in ice time and the team in points with 22, but has just four goals this season. It's been a struggle playing with linemates that aren't nearly as good as he's had at his side throughout his career.

The feeling is that he's getting tired of the losing and will waive his no-move clause before the deadline. The team won't bring him back next season, so there's not much of a point in him sticking out a year of losing when he can have a chance to win for a fourth time on a real Stanley Cup contender.

Jonathan Toews is the other Blackhawks' veteran that should be on the move. He is tied for the team lead in goals with 10 and is a UFA at the end of the season, but has the same large cap hit of $10.5 million that Kane has. Toews is a proven leader and can provide solid play as a second line centre on a number of contenders seeing as there appears to be that need around the league.

In terms of cost, Kane provides more value for the contract he has. The Blackhawks will have to retain salary either way, but they really want to be able to move Kane and get that return. I don't want to leave Max Domi off this list as he's had a big bounce-back season. There's almost no feasible way he's not traded as well and there's nothing stopping the Blackhawks from doing so.