3 UFAs that make sense for the Blackhawks

July 1 used to be one of the best days for an NHL fan. The craziness of the first day of free agency was only matched by trade deadline day. But now, with the rising salary cap, both days have lost their intensity. Many of the top unrestricted free agents never even hit the open market, and teams like to beat the rush on the trade deadline by making their big deals earlier in the season.

The Chicago Blackhawks appear to be a franchise ready to move forward from rebuilding and developing to competing. Nearly every player said they want to be in the Stanley Cup Playoff race come next spring during their exit interviews.  General manager Kyle Davidson made a good first step towards contention by acquiring Bowen Byram and Jordan Greenway ahead of the draft, but there is still a lot of work to do.

Even though this year’s free agency class is devoid of elite talent, there are still three players who would make a lot of sense for the Blackhawks to bring in. Granted, a guy like Rasmus Andersson would be a great fit, but I don’t see the Davidson pursuing another defenseman who wants a big-dollar, long-term contract. John Carlson and A.J. Greer both make a ton of sense, but since their negotiation rights have been traded, they may not hit the open market.

D - Jacob Touba

Adding Byram takes care of the defensive corps for the long term, but the Blackhawks still need to shore up the right side. After Louis Crevier’s departure, Artyom Levshunov and Sam Rinzell are the only right-handed defenders left on the roster. Jacob Trouba brings everything this group needs: experience, size, and physicality.

Trouba can replace the stability void left by Connor Murphy, while bringing a punishing style of play that this team has lacked for years. He’s a responsible, stay-at-home defender who will become a vital part of the Blackhawks’ penalty kill. He also has a boom slap shot, which he used to score 10 goals last season, one shy of his career-high. He’s been durable, missing only 20 games over the past five seasons.

AFP Analytics projects that Trouba will get a four-year, $6.4 million AAV contract. That might be a little longer-term than the Blackhawks want to commit to, but they can make up for it by giving him more per season on a shorter deal. The 32-year-old blueliner will be a hot commodity, so it’s a long shot that he ends up with the Blackhawks.

D – Nick Jensen

If Trouba is too big a swing or wants more years than you’re willing to give, Davidson could look at Nick Jensen. He’s three years older and not as accomplished as Trouba, but he fills the need for a veteran right-handed shot on the blue line. Even at 35, he’s still a good skater and can get the puck out of the defensive zone with his mobility. Offense has never been his thing, but the veteran of nearly 700 NHL games is sturdy in his own zone.

Jensen still has the speed to keep up with this young team. He’s not as fast as he once was, but he surely isn’t the slowest guy on the roster either. He’s a steady presence who has started nearly 62% of his shifts in the defensive zone in his career. He would be a good addition to the penalty kill unit, which has lost Murphy and Crevier.

This is not the sexiest signing in the world, but it makes sense for what is needed this season. AFP projects a two-year contract, worth $3.3 million per season for Jensen. Adding him won’t move the needle much, but he serves an important purpose.

F-Mason Marchment

In a “normal” free agency year, Mason Marchment would be considered a second-tier player. But in 2026, he will be one of the most coveted forwards. He would instantly add size and physicality, which the Blackhawks need more of. Greenway shouldn’t have to do it all by himself. Marchment embraces the role of an agitator and provides secondary scoring from right in front of the net.

Marchment could be very effective on the second power-play unit, proving screens in front of the goaltender and battling for loose pucks and rebounds. Jeff Blashill says he wants his team to be harder to play against, and Marchment instantly makes that happen. Adding him and Trouba alongside Greenway changes this team's identity. They are no longer the young Blackhawks who can be easily pushed around. They would become a dynamic team that would punch you in the mouth when it had to.

The 31-year-old will get you around 20 goals and 50 points every year, with the added bonus of physicality. AFP projects his contract at three years and $5.7 million per season. With so few effective forwards on the market, a bidding war could drive that price up.

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