3 offseason moves Blackhawks still desperately need before September

Seriously, do NHL general managers ever go on summer vacation? Even if they do, chances are, they're still taking calls if it means getting a few more much-needed moves done before training camp and the preseason kick off.

And if you think it's a long way away, think again. As I write this, it's July 22nd, and the prospects will report just over a month from now as the days get shorter and the temperature starts to drop - something I'm totally fine with.

So, as the summer begins to show signs of wear and tear, or at least that's the case where I'm at with 80-degree days and little humidity, let's talk about three moves Chicago Blackhawks general manager Kyle Davidson needs to make before the summer ends.

1 - Trade Laurent Brossoit

This one's rather straightforward. You have two young goaltenders and you don't need a third one. That said, Brossoit's services are no longer needed, even if he never wore a Blackhawks sweater in a regular season game to begin with.

Right now, he's a No. 2 netminder who deserves to play for a championship contender, especially if he's interested in going back to either Vegas or Winnipeg. But right now, the Hawks could put Brossoit on the trade block and generate a lot of interest from virtually every contender out there that needs a solid No. 2 netminder.

Yeah, his recent injury history might concern some teams, but the Hawks will have buyers. And to be honest, moving the contract here will suffice.

2 - Extend Connor Bedard

Right now, the jury is still out on Bedard's contract, but this is something the Hawks need to get done sooner rather than wait it out. Come to an agreement with Bedard, and leave no doubt to the fanbase that he's your top franchise player moving forward.

Even if things look bleak across Blackhawks circles now, extending Bedard, whether it's long-term or on a bridge deal, during the summer means that the Hawks are finally getting some franchise stability. With that stability will come players interested in making the Windy City their next home.

And yeah, that'll be the case even if there's another year or two of growing pains. So erase the uncertainty and give the fans some relief.

3 - Trade Ilya Mikheyev

An underrated player who could probably draw in some much-needed help if the Hawks swap with a contender, I'd put Ilya Mikheyev on the trade block immediately and let a contender who needs another forward on the middle six overpay for him.

Not that Mikheyev, even if he sold at a higher cost than usual, wouldn't be a disappointment if he didn't put up 20 goals for a playoff-caliber team. But if he put up high-energy and high-quality minutes, plus reliable play on someone else's third line, he just made that team deeper.

In Chicago, Mikheyev can play the same role, but what are the odds he sticks around the Windy City unless he enjoys a Ryan Donato-like 2025-26 season? Nah. The best bet is to trade him now while he has value and reap the returns.

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