The Summer of 69 (assets)

I got my first real six-string,
Bought it at the five-and-dime,
Played it til my fingers bled,
Was the summer of '69...

The Chicago Blackhawks perhaps didn't set out to make as many moves as they did when the offseason officially began all the way back in July. But what transpired was at least as notable as trying to make a garage band take off, only to have your friends all move away and still somehow manage to find the love of your life.

Let's play it back to that hot July 7th day, when GM Thomas Gidlow made the first of his trades which would take him and the Blackhawks through a transformation towards the best team (on paper) in their EHE existence.

July 7th: Jordan Eberle and Brendan Gallagher moved to NJ/NY

Josh Bailey was the notable acquisition here, but Chicago would pick up eight other assets - of which four remain (Ben Gleason, Anthony Louis, Harry Zolnierczyk, and Chris Nell)

July 10th through 15th: Three deals made, all acquired assets eventually will be flipped

Jonathan Quick, Derick Brassard, and prospect Jack Dugan are the story here, as the Hawks ship out Colton Sissons (much more on him later), Curtis McElhinney, and farm depth to take on some large contracts. It won't be the first time Chicago adds big-time salaries in order to stockpile assets (Denton Heinen and Nathan Bastian also came in from these deals).

July 20th through 22nd: The Entry Draft and aftermath

Before the draft festivities began, Chicago had just two draft picks in their arsenal. On the eve of Draft Day, Derek Forbort and P-E Bellemare were moved to Arizona for the still-retained Colin Miller and Justin Holl. That's when "flipmania" truly began in earnest, as the previously acquired Quick was moved for Curts Lazar and prospect Jordy Bellerive (both still with Chicago) just prior to Round One.

Heinen was sent to Boston for what turned out to be four draft picks - only one is still Blackhawk property (Martin Pospisal). The other three were used in future trades that ended up coalescing into deals to bring David Krejci, TJ Oshie, and Jesper Fast to the windy city.

July 27th and July 31st: Patches and Jenner land in the Second City

In a deal that had been in the works for a few weeks, Chicago announces the acquisition of Max Pacioretty. The cost? Two assets already acquired earlier in the offseason (Isaac Ratcliffe, a 2nd rounder in 2020). The Hawks also nab prospect goaltender Evan Cormier in this deal. Before July is out, the Blackhawks grab Boone Jenner back from the Ottawa Senators for a 1st round pick in 2021. Jenner's stay would be short-lived.

August 15th: 'T-Day' - Toews moved to the Big Apple

Jonathan Toews, the franchise center and team captain, is surprisingly dealt to the Rangers and is eventually reunited with Patrick Kane. The main pieces returning to Chicago are Victor Mete and Joe Veleno, while a pick that's also part of the deal (along with the previously acquired Bastian) eventually nets Radek Faska from Philadelphia.

Jeff Carter comes along in the transaction and is eventually flipped for a fourth-round pick in 2020 (along with a slight improvement of a 5th round pick for another 4th round pick).

August 20th to October 18th: Silence - nary a move was made in Chi-town

As if the entire organization went on holiday, the Blackhawks went nearly 60 days without a roster move.

October 19th: The boom drops - Byfuglien is moved to the Rangers

As if there was anywhere else he could go, Dustin Byfuglien - who reportedly refused to play for the Blackhawks and demanded a trade - was moved to re-join Toews in New York. The return, at first, seemed paltry. But it ultimately led to the acquisition of stoic rearguard Jack Johnson. In all, Chicago nabbed Johnson, Mirco Mueller, Matt Luff, and prospect Carl-Johan Lerby as a result of moving out the disgruntled Byfuglien.

November 11th through 14th: Major upgrades come to town

In a final (?) wave of moves, the Blackhawks send Jordan Staal, Erik Haula, and three assets acquired earlier in the offseason to - you guessed it, the Rangers - for TJ Oshie and Cody Eakin. Jenner and Markus Nutivaara (along with 2019 draft selection Johan Sodergran) are flipped to Edmonton for David Krejci and 21-year old defenseman Keaton Middleton. Carter is flipped for the picks as mentioned above, and long-time (ha) Hawk Andrew Cogliano is sent packing to Boston for backup goaltender Pheonix Copley.

Let's take a breath, shall we?

Good. And we didn't even cover the UFA signings of note, which include Joe Thornton re-upping with the club, along with Johnny Boychuk and Ilya Lyubsuhkin joining the Hawks.

In all, 21 players who ended the 2018-19 season with the Blackhawks were moved to acquire 29 assets, while 19 other assets were flipped in the process. Including the UFA signings, the end result...?

Projected Depth Chart

Josh Bailey - David Krejci - TJ Oshie
Max Pacioretty - Joe Thornton - Reilly Smith
Cody Eakin - Radek Faska - Jesper Fast
Kyle Clifford - (possible UFA?) - Magnus Paajarvi

Dmitry Orlov - Matt Niskanen
Colin Miller - Jack Johnson
Johnny Boychuk - Victor Mete

Tuukka Rask
Pheonix Copley

Is Chicago done yet? Are they ever done yet? One thing is for certain - this is a better Chicago club than the one that ended the 2019 playoffs out in five games.
 

Standin' on your mama's porch
You told me that it'd last forever
Oh, and when you held my hand
I knew that it was now or never
Those were the best days of my life

Chip Whitley
Blackhawks Beat Reporter