Chicago Blackhawks Morning Links- Future Thoughts

Good morning Chicago Blackhawks fans! The Chicago Blackhawks have their core players in the middle of their Peak years, but soon the question will be what is the future of the franchise. 

Sure Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews are smack dab in the middle of their prime, but pretty soon they will be on the back side of that hill and to me the real question is who is the future.

One of those future pieces has returned this past week with Brandon Saad coming back home for Artemi Panarin.  If you asked me who was the future face of the franchise would be after Toews and Kane after the 2015 Stanley Cup, the answer would have been a lay up…. Saad.

I was shocked when he was traded, but now he’s back so will he be able to jump over the boards and it be business as usual playing along side Toews?

More from Blackhawks News

• Blackhawks vs Flames: Date, Time, Lineup, Betting Odds, More
• Three Takeaways from the Blackhawks’ Win vs Vancouver
• Blackhawks: Why Derek King is the Right Coach moving forward
• Marc-Andre Fleury Carries the Blackhawks to a 4-2 Win vs Seattle
• Instant Reaction: Blackhawks top Kraken for first time in history

The other player that some think could be a future Captain and face of the team is Ryan Hartman.  He had a much better first full season in the NHL last year than I had expected.  He played on every line so his game can adapt to playing with the big boys or grinding away on the bottom lines.

Chicago Blackhawks

Who knows, maybe the next face of the franchise just got drafted this weekend!

As you ponder that here are some morning links to start your day!

What did Stan Bowman have to say about Michal Kempny and Gustav Forsling after the Niklas Hjalmarsson trade (Blackhawks)

Stan Bowman signed three restricted free agents on Tuesday including Ville Pokka and Anton Forsberg (Madhouse Enforcer)

There is a brand new slate in Rockford for the IceHogs 2017-2018 season (FaxesFromUncleDale)

Looking around the NHL and Chicago Blackhawks latest rumors (Hockey Buzz)

Artemi Panarin will always cherish his time in Chicago with the Blackhawks (CSN)

Connor McDavid is allegedly about to sign an 8 year deal for 13.25 million a year (Bleacher Report)

It appears that the Nashville Predators are gaining interest in Nick Bonino (Predlines)

Will Scottrade Center get renovated (Bleedin Blue)

Brendan Smith looks to be re-signing with the New York Rangers (Pro Hockey Talk)

Six things to watch in NHL free agency (SI)