The Chicago Blackhawks are in a pivotal moment as they approach the trade deadline, having already engaged in a flurry of activity. With salary cap constraints complicating their options, the team grapples with the challenge of moving players like Petr Mrazek and Alec Martinez. Both players possess hefty contracts that make them difficult to trade, especially given the Blackhawks' current retention of salaries for Jake McCabe, Mikko Rantanen, and Seth Jones.

Mrazek, at $4.25 million AAV through next season, is seen as a 1B or backup goalie, while Martinez's $4 million AAV cap hit is burdensome for a third-pairing defenseman. With playoff contenders typically limited in cap space, the Blackhawks may need to wait until the offseason to effectively move these players, unless injury circumstances arise that create opportunities.