3 veteran free agent defensemen the Blackhawks could sign to mentor young blueliners

Free agency has been a bust for the Chicago Blackhawks. That is because the market is terrible.

All the star players decided to sign extensions rather than test the free agent market. The salary cap going up allowed contenders to keep their stars or add them.

That is why youth will be served this season for the Chicago Blackhawks, since there are not many upgrades left. Theoretically, the Blackhawks could swing a trade since they have what seems like an infinite number of draft picks.

Fellow lottery teams likely will see what a contender would give up first before entertaining any offers from Hawks general manager Kyle Davidson.

That is why it makes sense for the Blackhawks to embrace the youth on the roster. It is the best option the franchise has to at least be entertaining.

Although Connor Murphy could use another veteran to help mentor the baby blueliners.

Davidson should see if a veteran is willing to take a reduced role but cash an NHL paycheck. That means avoiding bringing back Cavin de Haan. A veteran in the seventh defenseman spot might be the way to go. It would allow the coaching staff to sit a youngster if they are not playing up to certain standards. Having another veteran would also provide cover for when Murphy inevitabily goes on injured reserve.

Alex Vlasic is the only other defenseman on the roster the Hawks have who has skated in two full seasons. Wyatt Kaiser and Kevin Korchiniski have skated in 92 games each. That has come throughout their time in the organization.

Then it is a whole bunch of limited experience with Artyom Levshunov, Sam Rinzel, Ethan Del Mastro, and Nolan Allan.

The Hawks have a plethora of older forwards to help mentor the young guys there. Giving the defense the same veteran treatment cannot hurt.

There are three veteran defensemen the Hawks should check in to see if they would be willing to fill the seventh defenseman role.

Jan Rutta

He is at the tail end of his career, which began in Chicago. He won two Stanley Cups with Tampa, so he would bring a championship pedigree Davidson likes to have for the young guys.

He is 34 and a stay-at-home defender. It would be ideal to get him on a one-year deal rather than the two-year deal the Athletic projects he could get (subscription required).

Jon Merrill

He has carved out a career being a depth defenseman. Merrill's career average ice time being a tick under 17 minutes, screams final pairing defenseman.

He is a left-shot who still moves well on the ice. Now that he is 33, it would be worth seeing if he can push the young guys for that final pairing spot.

Marc-Edouard Vlasic

He was just bought out by the Sharks. If he does not retire, he would perfectly fit the veteran extra defenseman the Hawks could use.

Injuries limited him to 27 games. He still knows where to be on the ice in the defensive zone. It cannot hurt to see if he would be willing to play a reduced role and tutor the young guys.