Blackhawks center Jason Dickinson is prepared for possible trade: 'My game is well-built for playoffs'

WINNIPEG, Manitoba — Jason Dickinson felt the absence of just-traded Connor Murphy around the Blackhawks on Tuesday morning.

"It feels weird," Dickinson said. "The presence of him was hard to quantify because he was just so steady and so reliable in so many ways — not just on the ice but as a leader in the room. You could always look to Murph."

Dickinson also felt the spotlight of Hawks trade speculation shifting from Murphy to himself.

Three days away from the NHL trade deadline Friday, general manager Kyle Davidson is likely exploring the market for Dickinson and Ilya Mikheyev, two forwards whose defensive acumen could appeal to contenders.

Davidson knows he needs to free up roster spots for prospects graduating into the league, and Dickinson knows Davidson knows that.

"It's been on the radar for the better part of a month now," Dickinson said. "Everybody is obviously wondering about the situation, given that I have an expiring contract. It's a natural progression in the league.

"Whether something is going to happen or not, I truly don't know. But I know Kyle will be clear and upfront with me when something does come to him or if they're pursuing something. He's been nothing but world-class with me. The next three days could be interesting."

Dickinson has been traded twice before — from the Stars to Canucks in July 2021 and from the Canucks to Hawks in October 2022 — but never at the deadline.

So this is a new experience for him, trying to compartmentalize uncertainty about the future while playing games on a regular basis. If he does get dealt, however, Tuesday's matchup against the Jets will mark his final appearance as a Hawk.

"[Dickinson is] a great human, really even-keeled, got a great head on his shoulders, very self-accountable, looks in the mirror every day and wants to better himself," Hawks coach Jeff Blashill said. "He's been a really good piece for us. We'll see what happens. I have no control over that, and neither does he.

"I wish we were 10 points [into a playoff spot]. If we were 10 points in, we wouldn't have to talk about this stuff. But that's the goal next year."

Dickinson wishes the same. It's hard for him to believe he hasn't been in the playoffs since 2019 and 2020, his first two full NHL seasons. A silver lining of getting traded — for him, just like it was for Murphy — would be possibly ending that drought.

"I had older guys [in Dallas] tell me, 'Savor it because you may never get this chance again,'" Dickinson said. "I didn't believe them at the time. Here I am, six years later, and I haven't seen the playoffs since. The stories guys tell you, they really do ring true.

"You have to savor those moments because the playoffs are [expletive] hard to get into, and winning a round is really hard to do. When you get the opportunity, appreciate it and realize what you just accomplish. So if I got the chance, I would be more than thrilled."

The Kings are one team to watch, although they're far from assured to make the playoffs. They've closely scouted the Hawks lately, and Davidson reportedly attended the Kings-Avalanche game Monday.

They entered Tuesday four points below the playoff line, but it would make sense for them to try to make a push in Anze Kopitar's final season, especially after acquiring Artemi Panarin. Injuries to Kevin Fiala and Andrei Kuzmenko have depleted their forward depth; Dickinson or Mikheyev could supplement it.

The Wild and Hurricanes are two other teams potentially seeking help at center.

"I think my game is well-built for playoffs," Dickinson added. "It's simple; it's direct. Teams can want something like that to bolster depth and give them strength on the [penalty kill] instead of big-fish hunting for a dynamic player."