Blackhawks would be foolish to make big splash this season

The Chicago Blackhawks have entered a zone the team hasn’t been in for a long time. The club is within striking distance of a playoff spot this season and could be looking to add, not subtract.

The temptation certainly is there. Connor Bedard is having his best season yet. Plenty of other factors, such as goaltending, have come together. So, wouldn’t this be the best time for the Blackhawks to go for it?

On the surface, that might seem sensible. Blackhawks fans have endured so much over the last decade or so. The heartache of seeing the end of a prosperous era and the torment of seeing a teardown come at such a high cost.

But the future is rife with optimism. The pieces the club has picked up have begun to bear fruit. And that’s why the Blackhawks would be foolish to make a big splash this season. While Bedard and Spencer Knight have carried the club, the Blackhawks would have to draw from their vast prospect pool to get veteran pieces to bolster the lineup.

But then again, now is not the time to do that. Unless the Blackhawks could move other veteran pieces like Tyler Betuzzi or Andre Burakovsky, the timing just isn’t right. Even if the Blackhawks could move into one of the top three spots in the Central Division, adding a major veteran piece at this time would come at the team’s peril.

Asking fans to be patient one more season doesn’t seem unreasonable. If the Blackhawks make it to the playoffs, then that’s a bonus. GM Kyle Davidson must resist the temptation of making a move to go for it this season. There’s plenty of time ahead for this club.

Blackhawks will have cap space to go hunting this offseason

The Blackhawks will have plenty of cap space to go big-game hunting this offseason. Before going any further, it’s worth pointing out that plenty of the big names projected to hit free agency in 2026 will no longer be available.

That being said, some interesting names could be available in free agency. Perhaps the most intriguing has to be Alex Tuch. While Tuch may still re-sign with the Buffalo Sabres, there isn’t anything imminent, at least not that we know of.

Then, other veteran players might want to test the market. Nick Schmaltz of the Utah Mammoth, Charlie Coyle of the Columbus Blue Jackets, and even Patrik Laine of the Montreal Canadiens could be interesting options for the Blackhawks.

According to PuckPedia, the Blackhawks will have over $53 million in cap space next season. That’s a mind-shocking number. Of course, a chunk of that cap space will go towards Bedard’s next contract. Colton Dach will also be an RFA, while several RFAs will come due in 2027.

Still, the Blackhawks can afford to take a page out of the Detroit Red Wings’ book. No big, long-term commitments to veteran players. Perhaps Chicago can entice veterans on one or two-year deals with a larger payday for now.

It would be nice to see the Blackhawks make the playoffs this season. If they do, management should let this club do it on its own. While adding a couple of fringe pieces would be fine, they should not come at the cost of the team’s plentiful prospect capital.