Tracking Chicago Blackhawks’ Upcoming Free Agents’ Staying Power

Michal Rozsival

Dude is never leaving. (But I honestly hope his post-concussion symptoms don’t continue to linger.)

Does he return: Yes, either on the ice or in the front office

Jan Rutta

My initial thought on the Blackhawks bringing in Rutta from the Czech Republic this offseason was that they wouldn’t add an overseas defenseman if they weren’t going to use him at the NHL level. Of course, they also added forward David Kampf from the same country, and he’s been thrown to the backburner already.

Of course, the Blackhawks have about 50 bottom-six options right now, Kampf among them. Rutta, meanwhile, could play a role on an uncertain Chicago defense. He’s a big guy who’s more offensively inclined, and he could make himself valuable in a third-pairing setting.

Does he return: Yes

Patrick Sharp

I don’t think the Blackhawks are going to let Sharp retire anywhere else at this point. That moment is coming up more quickly than most would like to believe, but hopefully Sharp also has some hockey left in him.

Does he return: Yes, either on the ice or in some community liaison role