Insider reveals Chicago Blackhawks are gearing up for a huge 2025 free agency
An insider says the Chicago Blackhawks could be big players in free agency in 2025 as they look to become competitive relatively quickly.
The Chicago Blackhawks are hoping to take a step forward this coming season and get out of the basement in both the Central Division and Western Conference. This off-season, General Manager Kyle Davidson made some key additions, bringing in Tyler Bertuzzi, Teuvo Teravainen and T.J. Brodie, along with depth pieces Craig Smith, Alec Martinez, Pat Maroon, Ilya Mikheyev.
While the Blackhawks are poised to be better in 2024-25 than they have in recent years, they'll still be in tough as they search for a playoff spot in the Western Conference. It seems more realistic that they'll be in the mix for a playoff berth in 2025-26 and next summer could be big for the Blackhawks on the free agent market.
In a recent mailbag article on The Athletic, Mark Lazerus was asked if the Blackhawks could be aggressive in the free agent market and he said that it's possible, especially considering next year's crop of UFAs that includes Mitch Marner Brock Boeser and Aaron Ekblad, just to name a few.
"The fact that Davidson was ready to trade next year's unprotected top pick (almost certainly a top-10 pick) to Columbus for the ability to draft Demidov is as clear a sign as any that the Blackhawks are ready to stop living years in the future. Could they deal away future picks for players? It's possible, but unlikely. Trades like that are rare, and it's not as if they'll be in the rental market at the trade deadline. But perhaps they look for this generation's Brian Campbell and/or Marian Hossa next summer � the player who signals to both the team and its fans that it's time to start taking the Blackhawks seriously again." Lazerus said.
He added, "With Mitch Marner, Brock Boeser, Nikolaj Ehlers, John Tavares, Shea Theodore and Aaron Ekblad among the players slated for unrestricted free agency next summer, just as players such as Oliver Moore and Levshunov are ready to break into the NHL for good, things could get interesting very quickly."
It's going to be interesting to see what the Blackhawks are able to accomplish on the ice this season as Connor Bedard looks to take his game to another level and potentially become the team's first 100-point player since Patrick Kane in 2018-19.
Off the ice, it looks like Kyle Davidson could have some big decisions to make next summer as he tries to turn the Chicago Blackhawks back into a contender, led by the aforementioned Connor Bedard.
Source: The Athletic
Is it OK for Blackhawks fans to actually root for wins? Lazerus mailbag, Part I
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Will the Blackhawks make the playoffs this season? | ||
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