Does the lack of free agency moves hurt the Blackhawks?

The Chicago Blackhawks are a team worth watching in the near future as their young stars continue to contribute more. As for the present, did general manager Kyle Davidson miss the boat with free agency? With minimal moves, the Blackhawks failed to gain ground in the Central Division.

Which players were signed

Davidson and Chicago went defensive, with four of the six signings being blueliners. Veteran Ian Cole signed a one-year deal with an average annual value (AAV) of $4 million. Dylan Anhorn signed a one-year deal worth $850,000 and will start the year in the American Hockey League (AHL) with the Rockford IceHogs. Connor Mackey signed a two-year, two-way deal worth $937,000 and will flip between Chicago and Rockford. Veteran Cole Smith will be in Chicago to the tune of a three-year, $9 million deal and play a pivotal role in the forward group. Connor Mylymok signed a one-year, $850,000 deal and will report to the IceHogs. The other signing was defenseman Bowen Byram, who was acquired through a trade with the Buffalo Sabres. His new deal is a six-year, $75 million contract.

These moves help give the defense in both Rockford and Chicago some depth at the position. Davidson signed a variety of defensemen, from playing an offensive game to being strictly defensive. He knows that was a spot that needed pieces, and he went out and acquired those pieces.

Were the signings enough to compete?

Yes and no. The signing of Byram gives the team a legit two-way defenseman who can produce offensively and be impactful on the defensive end. Cole gives them stability on the back end, and Smith should play a pivotal role in the middle-six and on the penalty kill. Other than those moves, the others were to restock the cabinet in Rockford.

Yes, the Blackhawks and Davidson could have done more, but do we blame them for not doing more? Players changing teams are likely to make a difference in some fashion, but the cost of the contracts given could have redirected Davidson's free-agency plan. Chicago did have money to spend, but the players who went elsewhere are chasing Stanley Cup playoff runs and playing in tax-free states. Chicago has a lot to offer, but even in a time when the salary cap is going up, they can only do so much.

We also do not know what Davidson tried to do. Did he put in a trade request for Brady Tkachuk? Did he want to sign Sergei Bobrovsky? He may have intended to make a splash, but the players he wanted chose otherwise. Could they have made more moves via trade? Maybe, but again, it depends on the players and whether they had no-movement clauses. Chicago has a nice young core ready to move forward. They have some nice pieces that will help get this team back in contention sooner rather than later. Davidson has to be smart about how he builds this team going forward. This was a time when passing may have been the best option.

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