5 objectives the Chicago Blackhawks must achieve to have a successful offseason

The Chicago Blackhawks are about to embark on a pivotal offseason that hopefully moves the rebuild forward. The goal was to raise the standards last offseason, but most of those transactions barely moved the needle.

That is why it is critical that the Hawks have a successful offseason this year.

While another last-place finish next season would give the Blackhawks a shot at drafting a generational talent, such as Gavin McKenna, finishing last would only provide a chance, as there is no guarantee the Hawks will win the NHL Draft Lottery. The Hawks dropped a spot in this year's draft order because the ping-pong balls did not go their way.

Plus, luck is not the best plan for executing a rebuild. That is why a prudent offseason would be disappointing.

Instead, the Blackhawks must achieve these five objectives to have a successful offseason...

1. Sign Connor Bedard to a long-term extension.

While some think he had a sophomore slump, he did have another 60-point season before turning 20. However, it will seem like whatever he does will never be enough since he was hyped as a generational talent when he was drafted No. 1 overall in 2023.

He has done enough to prove he is an impact player worthy enough to be on the roster through the rest of the decade and beyond.

That is why the Hawks must convince Bedard to sign for that long rather than take a short-term bridge option.

2. Get Ryan Donato to sign an extension, and if he makes it to free agency, get him to re-sign.

Donato picked a great time to have a career season. He is set up to get a nice payday in free agency because of 31 goals and 31 assists this season.

However, it is buyer beware, since before this year, his previous career highs were in the 2021-22 season when he had 16 goals and 15 assists for the Seattle Kraken. Hey, maybe he is a late bloomer.

He was an asset for the Blackhawks at the trade deadline, and the team chose not to deal him. That is why the Hawks have to retain him to keep his asset status. While he could revert to the mean next season, he is still a solid player you want to keep around as the team transitions from rebuilding to contending.

The Hawks know that, and that is why the front office is doing everything it can to keep Donato from reaching free agency.

The resolution seems simple: reward Donato for a great season since he is 29, but convince him to take a shorter-term deal to avoid his cap hit becoming an albatross if he regresses.

3. Sign two of the top free agent forwards still in their 20s.

The Blackhawks must upgrade their top six. Thankfully, this is the offseason that has a couple of forwards still in their prime performance years set for the free agent market.

Mitch Marner is considered the best free agent available (a subscription is required to access the content linked), and the Blackhawks should pursue him. However, he does have some holes in his game that makes potentially committing $16 million a year to him turning into another Seth Jones situation.

Sam Bennett would be an excellent bruising center to add to a roster that could use his physical style of play with the ability to score goals. However, it might be hard to get him to leave Florida.

Nikolaj Ehlers would be a great linemate to pair up with emerging star Frank Nazar on the second line. Brock Boeser could find success much like many former Canucks have found by coming to Chicago.

Either way, the Hawks need to take their vast cap space and sign at least two of these four players.

4. Draft a bigger forward prospect with the No. 3 overall pick.

The Blackhawks are set defensively with a lot of promising young players. The team also has a lot of skilled forward prospects. However, a lot of them are under six feet tall.

The Hawks must get some size to go along with elite skill with the No. 3 pick. Luckily for the Blackhawks, there are some options at No. 3 with Caleb Desnoyers, Anton Frondell, or Porter Martone. While Boston College forward James Hagens is highly regarded, he is on the smaller side.

That means Hagens becomes redundant where Desnoyers, Frondell, and Martone are just as highly regarded, and they can be unique in the Hawks organization.

5. Commit to a backup goalie.

The Hawks must decide who will back up Spencer Knight next season.

Arvid Soderblom had a nice bounce-back season after Laurent Brossoit was lost for the season to a knee injury. Soderblom is set to be a restricted free agent.

The Hawks must decide if Brossoit is cleared to play, to stick with him, or try to trade him for pennies on the dollar and go with Soderblom. Before the knee surgery that kept him out all season, Brossoit was one of the best backup goalies in the NHL. Maybe that still provides some trade value.

The Blackhawks also have to see what price Soderblom is looking for in free agency and possibly match an offer another team could give him.

It will be interesting to see what decision the Blackhawks make, but if they can achieve these five objectives, they have a shot at moving up in the standings.