Pairing Nikolaj Ehlers with Frank Nazar would be a dream for the Chicago Blackhawks

The hope is the Chicago Blackhawks sign a top free agent this offseason with all the cap space the team has to play with.

Adding Mitch Marner's playmaking ability to the top line is the dream. Imagine him dishing out assists to Connor Bedard on a nightly basis. However, the Blackhawks will not be the only team trying to sign the best available free agent.

Plus, he still wants to remain in Toronto. Although the Maple Leafs might not want him back.

Say the Blackhawks lose the Marner sweepstakes, then the team should make every effort to sign Nikolaj Ehlers.

The main reason is imagining him and Frank Nazar skating on the same line together.

Ehlers is considered the second-best free agent according to Sportsnet, that could hit the market this offseason. He will still be 29 when next season starts.

Ehlers had 24 goals and tied a career-high 39 assists for the Winnipeg Jets this season. If the Blackhawks are thinking of trying Nazar as the second-line center, giving him a talented linemate like Ehlers would be a good move.

Ehlers can also help on the power play. Although all 25 goals he had two seasons ago came at even strength.

While the next bar for Nazar to clear is putting together a full season of great production, he should be considered a core piece just like Connor Bedard. Finding Nazar a partner or two on the second line must be an offseason focus.

Ehlers could be an upgrade over Teuvo Teravainen on the second line, who provided a lot of assists but a decline in goals. Tyler Bertuzzi was inconsistent all season, too. Plus, Bertuzzi still might be better as a gritty winger on the top line to win puck battles and shoot passes off to an open Bedard.

Ehlers is projected not to be an expensive free agent. He is expected to get a small bump from his $6 million AAV in free agency, with projections having him getting around $7.5 million.

The Hawks could choose to spread out a projected $14 million a year that Marner will get in free agency and sign Ehlers, and say, Brock Boeser, instead. The Hawks have had good luck with Vancouver Canucks players who have a small decline after a career season.

While Marner would make headlines, Ehlers and Boeser would give the Hawks an upgrade among their options in the top six outside of Nazar and Bedard. Also, there is a possibility Ryan Donato bolts in free agency, so the Hawks must replace his offensive production, even if it was just a career season.

Nazar is playing great in the IIHF Hockey World Championships, which is another encouraging sign for where his career is going. Giving him someone talented and fast like Ehlers would only help his rise toward being an elite player.