Interesting article in the Athletic where Scott Powers spoke to four league sources regarding the trade value of the core four. Here is a summary if anyone is interested:
Kane: Cash owed is lower than AAV, still has a ton of value, could return an A prospect and a first rounder but they don't think the Hawks would trade him.
"He’s still only 32 years old. He’s still one of the dominant players in the league. His cash going forward is outstanding. The cap number is high, but the cash is good."
Keith: Cash-wise contract is great. Top 4 or 4-5-6 defenceman and still plays well. Could bring back a prospect and middle-six forward, is attractive to cash-strapped teams.
“I don’t believe Duncan Keith will ever leave the Blackhawks. We’ve asked about him, and he just doesn’t want to leave there.”
Seabrook: They don't he'll be traded, too much cap hit even if half the contract is retained. Would have to be a big package for Seattle to take him and sources don't think teams would.
“It would cost you ‘A’ prospects. It could be a first-round pick and an ‘A’ prospect, not a ‘B’ prospect, but an ‘A’ prospect. Does that mean a potential Ian Mitchell and a first-rounder? That’d be one of the guys I’d be asking for. Lucas Carlsson is another one. It’s going to cost them. Teams may ask for (Alex) DeBrincat. Hey, if you give us DeBrincat, we’ll take him. But that’s what they’re up against.”
Toews: Toews would be valued for his leadership and intangibles and would be someone a team that needed good mentors would bring. Though he has the same contract as Kane, the Hawks would have to eat salary to trade him.
“You’d have to eat $3-4 million, but you could bring back prospects and maybe a high draft pick.”
Honestly, the thing that surprised me most is that aside that a team would be asking for Lucas Carlsson in a trade package for Seabrook as an A prospect. I think we might be sleeping on how good he is.