Bryan Bickell's agent can see the writing on the wall for his client.

"If we are watching things with our eyes open, it's pretty clear that I would say his future is likely not with the Blackhawks," Todd Diamond told Scott Powers of the Chicago Sun-Times.

"Hopefully, we can work out a trade. (General manager) Stan (Bowman) is open to that. But making trading these days in the NHL can be a time-consuming process where in the past you could just move bodies around much easier."

Bickell was reassigned to the AHL's Rockford IceHogs on Sunday after clearing waivers.

Related: Blackhawks' Bickell buried in minors

Blackhawks head coach Joel Quenneville said Bickell's poor play led to his demotion, but Quenneville didn't rule out the possibility of the 29-year-old winger playing for his team again.

"You (have) got to earn it," the coach said. "Sometimes it's on a merit basis; sometimes it's on health reasons as well. I don't want to deny him an opportunity to get back here and play and help us. I still think he has that ability. How far away that is (has yet) to be seen."

Bickell was recalled in early December after racking up seven goals and seven assists in 12 games with the IceHogs, but he collected only two points in 16 games with the Blackhawks in his latest NHL stint, before being sent down for the second time this season.

It's no surprise Bryan Bickell's camp wants to work out a trade. But it's not as if the #Blackhawks haven't been trying for at least a year. — Mark Lazerus (@MarkLazerus) January 17, 2016

Chicago will save $950,000 of his $4-million cap hit by sending him back to the minors.