8 Chicago Blackhawks leaving in the new year

Alec Martinez and T.J. Brodie

Both defensemen were signed in the offseason to provide some veteran play on the blue line while talented prospects such as 2024 first-round pick Artyom Levshunov and Ethan Del Mastro got time to develop in Rockford.

Martinez has battled injuries throughout this season and is on a one-year deal. If he can return in time to showcase his veteran skills, he could be traded at the deadline. Otherwise, he should be allowed to walk next offseason.

Brodie has been awful this season. It is getting to the point that he should be bought out after the season, as he still has one year left on the two-year deal he signed this past offseason. Heck, he has been so bad that he should be bought on as soon as possible.

Philipp Kurashev

Who knows what has happened to Kurashev this season. He looks nothing like the emerging star player we saw last season.

He established great chemistry with Bedard, but not skating with him for much of this season has seen a major decline. He has just five points on the season in 30 games. He had 36 assists alone last season.

Kurashev has been so bad that he has been scratched multiple times. When he is on the ice, he has been a complete non-factor. That is something that seemed unfathomable last season.

The traditional plus/minus is a clear indication of how lost his season has been, with him being a -27. That's a number that is so poor that it would make sense to put him on waivers and get him to Rockford.

Kurashev is set for restricted free agency after the season. Being 25, the Hawks can easily replace him with one of their promising forward prospects. The hope is some team is willing to see if there is still something by trading for him at the deadline. The other option is to just non-tender him this offseason.