5 remaining UFA forwards that could make sense for the Blackhawks

The Chicago Blackhawks were dealt a devastating blow yesterday as the team announced that star forward Connor Bedard will be sidelined for four months following successful surgery on his left shoulder after an injury he sustained during offseason training. This timeline will likely keep Bedard out of action for at least the first month of the upcoming campaign.

If general manager Kyle Davidson was planning on calling it a summer, he may have to change course after this development. The Blackhawks have not added any top-end forwards so far this offseason in the midst of a challenging trade market. The thought was that the young guns joining the fold would be enough to fill the void. With the prospect of Bedard missing the start of the season, Davidson has to reconsider this plan.

The 2026 free agent market is dry, but that is probably the only realistic option left at this point that does not involve sacrificing the future. Thankfully, this Bedard injury is temporary. So, making a stopgap addition via the UFA route would make sense. Here are five options that could be in play for Chicago.

Patrick Kane

This is the big one that the Blackhawks fandom has been calling for. Patrick Kane is arguably the greatest player in the history of the franchise. He has suited up for the last three seasons for the Detroit Red Wings. He has spent as much time in the postseason as Bedard's Blackhawks during that time. Kane appears open to a change as his career nears the finish line. Bringing back Kane would inject some life into a fanbase that has been down in the dumps this summer. Plus, the prospect of watching him play with Bedard when he returns from injury would be enticing. At 37 years old, Kane is well past his prime. However, he has shown he can still play. His hockey IQ has not gone anywhere with age. His skills would come in handy on a power play that will probably struggle without Bedard.

The question is, would he be interested in potentially ending his NHL journey where it all began? Perhaps, a hometown reunion with the Buffalo Sabres may be in order for Showtime. This would be fitting considering former Chicago teammate Jonathan Toews ended his career with his native Winnipeg Jets team.

Anthony Mantha

Anthony Mantha had the most productive season this past year amongst the remaining UFA's. He had a career year with the Pittsburgh Penguins, amassing 33 goals and 31 assists for 64 points in 81 games. He has struggled with inconsistency; it is hard to predict what version of Mantha will show up from one season to the next. Considering his age and the year he just had, he will likely want term on his next deal. That may not be something that interests the Blackhawks, who would be looking for a short fix here.

Patrik Laine

Now, this option would be a risk. Patrik Laine has been an injury-prone player throughout his career. With that being said, Laine has clear offensive abilities that are intriguing for this squad. He knows how to put the puck in the net with a dangerous release. He is also not a player known for his all-around game or defensive ability. But he could be worth taking a chance on. Like Kane, he could be effective on special teams while the team navigates without Bedard. At 28 years old, Laine still has time to get his career back on track. Maybe the fourth team will be the charm for him.

Vladimir Tarasenko

The thought of Vladimir Tarasenko on the Blackhawks a few years ago would have been a sinister thought for this fandom. His St. Louis Blues days are long behind him; Tarasenko has bounced across organizations in recent seasons. This is another aging player past his best days. But the talent is still there. Tarasenko could be a viable option for now to play with Anton Frondell and Roman Kantserov, his Russian counterpart.

Marcus Johansson

Marcus Johansson may not be the sexiest option on the table. But he has the ability to play center and wing. All the previous players listed are primarily wingers. With Bedard slated to miss time, Chicago's center depth has suddenly taken a major hit. Johansson could be a serviceable plug-in for the meantime. He is a reliable two-way player who is not going to hurt you on the ice.

Overall, the guys in play, for the most part, are underwhelming to say the least. Unless Davidson has a trade in the cards, he'll have to take his pick of the free agent litter in the hunt for a forward. It is very possible, despite the Bedard injury, that he still feels content with the moves he has made to this point and hedges his bets on Chicago's youth core popping off. It will be interesting to see if Davidson has anything else cooking this summer.

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