3 centers the Chicago Blackhawks could target in free agency

The upcoming 2023-24 offseason will be an important one for the Chicago Blackhawks.

After another rebuilding season, the Blackhawks finished 31st in the NHL with a 23-53-6 record. Management and players alike expressed the need to take a step further in the coming season when the team hosted their season-ending exit interviews. General Manager Kyle Davidson was open about making changes in the offseason to make the team more competitive, going on to say that another season finishing in the bottom five would be unacceptable. Similar claims were made by members of the leadership group such as Nick Foligno, Seth Jones, and Jason Dickinson, who all mentioned players needing to be on the same page and setting the standard higher.

As the NHL Draft approaches, teams will soon get a better idea of what the trade market will be. If the Blackhawks plan to exercise a trade, they have a plethora of draft picks spread out over the next few seasons to help them do so.

Aside from the trade market, the Blackhawks also have over 33 million dollars in salary cap space which they can utilize to bring in free agents. One area that will need to be addressed is the forward group, the Blackhawks offense finished dead last in goals scored this season with 179. Connor Bedard and Jason Dickinson were the only two players to surpass the 20 goal plateau, and only three other player surpassed 15.

With more young players expected to join the Blackhawks roster next season, there will be more talent throughout the lineup, but the goal will be to surround the youth with quality NHL talent to alleviate some of the pressures of the NHL. The second-line center position will be an area to look at, as the Blackhawks could use a reliable, quality, center behind Bedard that can help to add more scoring from the top-six.

The Blackhawks likely won't target one of the big name players, but there are still good centermen in free agency who can bring secondary scoring to a Blackhawks team that is desperate for it.

Sean Monahan

After an injury-plagued past few seasons, Sean Monahan had one of the biggest comeback seasons in the league this year. He started the season on the Montreal Canadiens, where he was sent as a camp dump after the 2021-22 season, and was traded to the Winnipeg Jets at the trade deadline. He tallied 26 goals and 59 points as a quietly consistent player all season long.

Monahan ended up playing in 83 games this year for Montreal and Winnipeg, the first time since the 2016-17 season that he played in over 80 games. He was considered one of the most consistent young players in the NHL in the early days of his career, with the centerman surpassing 60 points four times in his first six seasons.

Monahan proved this season that he can still play at a high level and could be a welcomed addition to the Blackhawks top nine as a scorer. He went seven straight seasons with 20 or more goals to begin his career and returned to that mark once again this year. As a goal scorer, he knows how to be consistent and the Blackhawks need more goal scorers.

At 29-years old, Monahan brings leadership to his game as well after spending seven seasons in Calgary with a letter on his jersey.

Monahan's health could be an issue for a team looking to sign him to a longer-term deal, which could give the Blackhawks a chance to give him a shorter deal with a higher salary attached. Though his defensive game is not what it was, Monahan could be a very solid scoring option alongside the Blackhawks' young players.

Max Domi

In last summer's free agency, many Blackhawks fans wondered if Max Domi was going to make a return to Chicago. After signing a one-year deal with the Blackhawks in the summer of 2022, Domi became a fan favorite and found his game after being reunited with Head Coach Luke Richardson.

Domi was traded to the Dallas Stars from Chicago before eventually signing in Toronto on a one-year deal, in the same city his father played in.

With the Maple Leafs, Domi saw a slight drop in production early on, but really started heating up when placed on Auston Matthews' wing. He finished the season with nine goals and 47 points and added nine points in seven playoff games.

Domi proved during his time in Chicago that he is a scorer. His 18 goals and 49 points through 60 games made many Hawks' fans want him to return. However, Domi brings much more to the table as a player. He plays a feisty game and is not afraid to get physical or even get into a fight, which is why he wins over fans.

He has a great relationship with Luke Richardson and is a leader in the locker room which adds to the culture of what the Blackhawks are trying to build. He is a heart and soul player, which could make him targeted by many teams in free agency.

The Blackhawks have the money to offer Domi an increase from his $3 million salary, and fans would welcome him back with open arms. If Domi reaches free agency, it could be a bidding war between teams to see who lands him.