Lately, I’ve received a lot of questions from Blackhawks fans across social media, my DMs, and in person, all asking the same thing If you were the general manager, what moves would you make before the trade deadline next week?

So here’s where I begin: The Blackhawks are likely to sign three college forwards—Ryan Greene from Boston University, Oliver Moore from Minnesota, and Dominic James from Minnesota-Duluth—once their college seasons wrap up. I also expect them to sign defenseman Sam Rinzel from Minnesota to his entry-level contract.

If these four players follow the same path as Frank Nazar, Landon Slaggert, Wyatt Kaiser, Alex Vlasic, and others, they will likely burn the first year of their ELCs in the NHL at the end of this season before heading to Rockford in the fall.

For these forwards to play NHL minutes, the Blackhawks will need to make space in the lineup for them. The same goes for Rinzel on defense. Essentially, we need to clear room for them to get some action in the coming week.

Additionally, I’d prefer these young players not push someone like Colton Dach back down to the AHL. If he’s earned an NHL spot, he should be playing with the big club. Let’s give the youth movement a chance to shine for a few weeks, right?

With that context in mind, here’s what I would do before the trade deadline if I were the Blackhawks’ general manager:

Trade 1: Alec Martinez to the New York Rangers

Why the Rangers make the trade: Based on what I’ve heard, the Rangers are looking for a reliable left-handed defenseman to pair with Adam Fox. Martinez, a player with multiple Stanley Cup rings, could be a perfect fit for them at the low cost of a decent forward (not one of their top prospects) and a two-round shift in the draft two years from now. With both Fox and K’Andre Miller leaving last night’s game with injuries, the Rangers may be looking to add another defender.

Why the Blackhawks make the trade: The Blackhawks have likely scouted Lamb at the University of Minnesota, where he plays alongside Moore and Rinzel. He’s a Cole Guttman-type player—someone who works hard, scores, and may have a future in the NHL, though likely as a fringe player. Having three Gophers in Rockford could work well. This move is more about creating space for Korchinski to join the NHL roster for the final six weeks of the season.