Henri Jokiharju-Alex Nylander trade now seems like win-win for Blackhawks and Sabres

The trade was initially roundly criticized by the Blackhawks’ fanbase and neutral analysts alike, but it has actually worked out well for both the Hawks and Sabres.

SHARE Henri Jokiharju-Alex Nylander trade now seems like win-win for Blackhawks and Sabres
Alex Nylander has undeniably performed better in the Blackhawks’ organization than the Sabres’.

Alex Nylander has undeniably performed better in the Blackhawks’ organization than the Sabres’.

Frederick Breedon/Getty Images

In an offseason of otherwise popular moves with the fan base, Blackhawks general manager Stan Bowman immediately took a lot of flak for the trade that sent Henri Jokiharju to the Sabres for Alex Nylander.

Four months later, the one-for-one swap has turned out better than expected for the Hawks — and just as good as expected for the Sabres. 

If anything, the early verdict is a win-win trade, which is presumably what Bowman and Sabres GM Jason Botterill were going for.

Although neither Nylander nor Jokiharju particularly stood out Sunday in a game the Hawks won 4-1, both showcased just how substantially the trade has elevated their respective roles and careers. 

Jokiharju has appeared in every game this season for Buffalo and averaged a sizable 16:37 per game, proving himself as a reliable player while the Sabres’ supposed top two defensemen (Rasmus Ristolainen and Rasmus Dahlin) struggle.

And Nylander — unable to permanently crack the Sabres’ bottom-tier roster the last three seasons — has played in 19 of 20 games for the Hawks, doubling his game total from the last three years, and averaged 12:53 per game.

“He’s playing very well,” coach Jeremy Colliton said Sunday. “Based on his play, [he] could have more goals, more points, and so [we’re] very happy for him.”

Comparing their respective campaigns is difficult, considering the positional differences. Nylander holds the lead in points, 9-7. Jokiharju’s shot-attempt and scoring-chance ratios are better. Hockey Reference’s point shares statistic, which evaluates individual impact on standings points earned, gives Jokiharju a slight edge, 1.3 to 0.9. 

But considering the doomsday mentality through which many initially viewed the trade, a slight edge to the Sabres is a welcomed outcome.

Jokiharju.jpg

Henri Jokiharju (No. 10) has scored twice this season for the Sabres, including earlier this month in Washington.

AP Photos

The comparisons might be pointless, anyway. It was obvious all along that Nylander needed a change of scenery to rejuvenate his young career, and it has become increasingly clear that Jokiharju and Colliton weren’t compatible, either.

In Jokiharju’s return to the United Center on Sunday, he said he somewhat expected to be traded over the summer and referenced his lack of a relationship with Colliton as a key reason why. The 2017 first-round pick was sent to the AHL shortly after Colliton’s arrival last season and never returned, despite solid results in his NHL tenure under Joel Quenne-ville.

“Honestly, I thought, ‘Maybe it’s going to be me [who gets traded],’ ” Jokiharju said. “Too many D-men. I saw a couple guys coming in.

“It’s a little bit [about] how the coach sees you as a player and as a person. I think that was one of the issues in here.”

Jokiharju admitted it would be weird to face off against Duncan Keith, a key mentor for him last season. Nylander said the same about the Sabres’ Victor Olofsson, a longtime AHL teammate and friend. 

But as far as seeing their old organizations again, both seemed uninterested in offering up more than basic platitudes. There isn’t exactly a reservoir of happy nostalgia to tap into.

That’s why the summer trade, as lopsided as it appeared at the time, has worked out rather well for both parties. Fans still can make a convincing argument that the Hawks deserved a small second asset in addition to Nylander, but those usually prove to be irrelevant in the long run.

As both teams move on in the season, Sunday’s game should close at least the first chapter of debate on the Jokiharju-Nylander swap.

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