Blackhawks: Five thoughts over halfway through the regular season

3 Does Alex Nylander still have a future with this team?

Alexander Nylander is in need of a new contract this offseason, and I think he is going to get it. Chicago is in a position to bring back Nylander on a small deal considering he has not seen much NHL success yet. Last season he did play good in spurts of times, but Nylander needs to be more consistent.

This season Nylander is out with an injury, but it still seems like some other young forwards have jumped him in the organization. The former eighth overall draft pick is now in competition with Philipp Kurashev, Pius Suter, Brandon Hagel, and Matthew Highmore for ice time.

Nylander is no longer just going to be handed a spot next to Patrick Kane anymore. While it would have been nice for the two to build some chemistry, that did not happen and now Kane is with DeBrincat.

It is in Nylander’s best interest to bet on himself and take just a one-year deal next season. However, I would expect the Blackhawks might try and lock him up for two or three years at around a million dollars in order to make sure if he does play well they can revisit the contract a year or two later.

Comment down below what you think Nylander is going to do with the team next season. While I would like to see him brought back, this team does have the younger players finally showing up to play and Nylander is expendable.