Despite holding the No. 8 selection in this weekend’s NHL draft in Dallas, the highest the Blackhawks have picked since taking Patrick Kane first in 2007, general manager Stan Bowman has been exploring trades to move up as high as No. 3.

Consensus among NHL analysts is that the Sabres and Hurricanes will take defenseman Rasmus Dahlin and winger Andrei Svechnikov, respectively, with the first two picks Friday night, but beyond those prospects there’s not much certainty.

And that’s muddying the trade waters, at least to this point.

“A lot of the teams in that range 3 through 7, they aren't sure they want to move down because they think they might get someone they value highly at that spot,” Bowman said Thursday in a conference call with reporters. “We have been pursuing the potential of moving up, and it still could happen, but you have to find someone willing to do that. And because of the uncertainty of how teams are going to select players, it leads to teams more likely sitting on that pick.”

The Hawks own eight picks in the two-day draft — Rounds 2-7 are Saturday — including a second first-round selection at No. 27 and two third-round picks.

Bowman made a pair of draft-day trades last year that reshaped the franchise, dealing Niklas Hjalmarsson to the Coyotes for Connor Murphy and Artemi Panarin to the Blue Jackets for Brandon Saad and backup goalie Anton Forsberg.

Another blockbuster isn’t imminent, but draft-day trades can come together quickly.

“We’re not close to doing a deal before (Friday),” Bowman said. “I’ve learned to try to never predict the future, so I can’t say for sure we’re going to be making significant moves. We’re going to try to improve our team.”

Bowman's first media availability since the end of a disappointing 2017-18 season — the Hawks missed the playoffs for the first time since 2008 — touched on two pressing issues that will have a big effect on the organization’s future: Corey Crawford's health and Marian Hossa’s contract.

It’s still unclear what health-related reason led to the end of Crawford’s season Dec. 23 — the Hawks labeled it as an upper-body injury — but Bowman said Crawford is preparing for next season like any other player. The team announced Crawford will appear at the Blackhawks Convention next month.

Bowman dismissed a question about whether the Hawks have shared information regarding Crawford’s health in an unusual manner.

“There’s no gag order,” he said. “We handle Corey’s situation the way we have with every other player. We never have gone into specifics on injuries, so we’re not treating him any differently than we are anybody else.”

Hossa, 39, who missed all of last season and has been on long-term injured reserve since October because of a progressive skin disorder, told a Slovakian newspaper last month he would not play hockey again. That won’t affect his status with the Hawks, who still can trade him to get extra salary-cap room. Hossa carries a $5.275 million cap hit for three more seasons, which teams needing to reach the cap floor could find desirable because his annual salary is only $1 million.

“There’s nothing to report on that front,” Bowman said. “Whether that will come to be I can’t predict.”

After the draft, Bowman will turn his attention to the trade market and free agency, which begins July 1. The Hawks aren’t limited to one specific need, but after giving up 256 goals last season — 43 more than in 2016-17 — they likely will focus on defense.

Unrestricted free agent John Carlson, 28, would be a dream pickup, but the defenseman is likely to command a long-term deal in the $9 million range annually.

“Before we get to training camp, we’re going to have some discussions,” Bowman said. “And we’re trying to improve our team if we can. But it’s not as simple as saying as ‘this guy is the guy’ because a lot of factors go into that. How much is it going to cost to acquire a player (in) a trade, or if he’s a free agent how many years do they want? What's the implication down the road?

“There’s a ripple effect when you commit money now for multiple years. It has a cascading effect. It’s not a simple equation.”

jgreenfield@chicagotribune.com

Twitter @jcgreenx

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