[Trade] Hawks trade Adam Clendening to Canucks for Gustav Forsling

[sureLoss]

Chicago Blackhawks @NHLBlackhawks
Blackhawks acquire D Gustav Forsling from VAN for D Adam Clendening.

The Chicago Blackhawks announced today that they have acquired defenseman Gustav Forsling from the Vancouver Canucks in exchange for defenseman Adam Clendening.


“We are excited to add Gustav to a strong group of young talent in our organization,” said Vice President/General Manager Stan Bowman. “He was one of the best players at the World Junior Championships a few weeks ago and this season has emerged as a regular contributor in the top professional league in Sweden. He’s an offensive defenseman that plays very well on the power play and has a big shot.”

[dammage79]

Was Forsling not one of their best prospects? I didn't think Clendening was that good.

[sureLoss]

Yeah Forsling was really impressive at the WJC.

[d_phaneuf]

Think this works out well for both teams

From what I have read Clendenning was just a depth issue with the Hawks, he's an offensive PMD which the Canucks desperately need and he has had monster AHL numbers the past few years

Forsling was a really good on the PP at the WJC, and is probably a few years away from contributing which may fit in with what the Hawks want

[mdubz]

Looks like a brutal trade for the Canucks. Forsling looks to be one of their top prospects for an ahl d man.

[sureLoss]

Clendenning also had to clear waivers to be sent down IIRC.

Rundblad moved past him on Chicago's depth chart.

[JiriHrdina]

This is just about buying time for the Hawks. Clendening can help the Canucks now, Hawks have no room for him. So they acquire a younger guy to push the calendar out.

[thefoss1957]

Q didn't seem comfortable with Clendining's work in his own zone, in his brief stint with the club...and there didn't seem to be much to separate his game from the likes of Johns, Dahlbeck, Rundblad, et.al.

[Meers]

Originally Posted by dammage79

Was Forsling not one of their best prospects?

Well, he was a 5th rounder in the 2014 draft, so probably not. But he did play well in the WJC.

Clendenning is a much more advanced (and higher drafted) prospect and has already had a few cups of coffee at the NHL level. I suppose that helps the Canucks now with the Bieksa injury.

[thefoss1957]

Pokka had appeared to have passed Clendening on the 'Hawks prospect depth chart...Pokka had been on the 1st pair at the Rock.

[d_phaneuf]

Originally Posted by thefoss1957

Pokka had appeared to have passed Clendening on the 'Hawks prospect depth chart...Pokka had been on the 1st pair at the Rock.

ya McKenzie said the Hawks are just buying years here on TSN, both offensively gifted d men with issues in their own end, kind of trade that can end up a win for both sides


Benning had scouted Clendening for awhile too

Benning knows Clendening inside out. When he was with the Bruins, Benning scouted Clendening, who was attending Boston University.

This is right in Benning’s wheel house. It’s the type of move the organization hoped would provide a big payoff when they hired Benning.

The Canucks GM spent two weeks on this one, starting negotiations not long after Forlsing got on everyone’s radar at the World Juniors.

After the show Forsling put on, he went back to Sweden and struggled, seeing his minutes diminish on his team there.

Did Benning sell high?

He doesn’t really see it that way.

He believes, if all goes right, Forsling will essentially be Clendening in a few years.

“They can be the same player,” Benning said. "But we got the guy who is years ahead in his development.”

[neo45]

I think the nucks won this one actually. I would take two years of solid performance in the AHL over a hot world juniors. The trade does make sense for the Hawks too though

[OzSome]

Originally Posted by neo45

I think the nucks won this one actually. I would take two years of solid performance in the AHL over a hot world juniors. The trade does make sense for the Hawks too though

Not neccessarily. Hawks might lose Glendinning for nothing anyways because their other D prospect are starting to get past him on the depth chart. Like one poster(I think it was sureloss) says, Glendinning needs to clear waiver to be sent down. So why not trade him and get a D prospect in return? Too soon to tell who won this trade as we haven't seen the player Chicago acquired play in the NHL yet.