Breaking down the Chicago Blackhawks ahead of NHL Free Agency.
Updated: Sunday, June 29
Pending free agents
Unrestricted: 13 | Restricted: 0 | See full list
[teamleaders league=”nhl” team=”chi” season=”2013″]
Blackhawks overview
The Blackhawks were one goal away from winning their second straight Stanley Cup — let’s be honest, they would have defeated the Rangers, right? Instead, they dropped a Game 7 overtime thriller to the Los Angeles Kings in the Western Conference final. While they were unable to secure back-to-back titles, the Blackhawks are already the favourites to win the 2015 Stanley Cup, according to early betting lines. And with good reason.
There aren’t many ways for this team to make marked improvements without going over the salary cap. General manager Stan Bowman has said an overhaul isn’t warranted at this point as his team performed very well in most areas of the game. He’s not wrong. Their roster will look nearly identical with 18 skaters under contract for next season, excluding a few restricted free agents.
One major storyline that will begin to gather steam this off-season is the fact that Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane are entering the final year of their deals. Signing them to long-term extensions will be a topic of conversation all season until the ink is dry on those two contracts.
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| Click player positions to see depth chart | ||
Areas to address
Once they re-sign their pending RFAs, there won’t be much cap space to work with. Michal Handzus will not be returning, so they need to fill a spot at centre, preferably a quality second-liner that can take some pressure off Toews. That’s something the Blackhawks have wanted for a while, but they might not be able to find that in free agency.
For one of the best teams in the league, Chicago was pretty subpar when playing a man down (19th in the NHL at 81.4 percent). Adding a forward or an extra d-man who specializes at killing penalties would be a nice addition.
Qualifying backup Antti Raanta should also be a priority, as he’s a strong option to replace Corey Crawford should the starter get injured or go through cold stretches. | UPDATE: Blackhawks agree to new deal with Raanta
Teuvo Teravainen is the top prospect in Chicago’s system and, although head coach Joel Quenneville has said there’s no timeline for the 19-year-old to crack the lineup, he could provide a nice injection of youth and skill – something that would be difficult to find via free agency.
Possible signing targets
David Legwand (C): A reliable veteran who’s solid in both ends. Wasn’t a great fit with Detroit and will be looking for a new home.
Brooks Orpik (D): Could bolster an already strong blueline and log some minutes on the penalty kill.
Jay McClement (C): Adds depth down the middle, and can also help aide their penalty killing woes.
Daniel Winnik (C): Another quality centre known for his two-way play.
NHL Free Agency needs: Full list for all 30 NHL teams
