Blackhawks: Signing Colin White

The Blackhawks are fully embracing the rebuild and it’s very evident with the movements at the draft. Losing Dach and Debrincat for draft capital is proof in itself. Bringing in cheap, maybe even risky free agents is a safe play for the Blackhawks going into next season. The team has nothing to lose with the organization likely picking a stud in the first round at year’s draft. I don’t expect too great of a 2022-23 season, so the next free agent profile focuses on recently bought out forward Colin White. 

White, 25, has played in 224 NHL games. In those games, the Boston, Mass. native has 36 goals and 62 assists for just under 100 points at 98. While not having an insanely impressive offensive output, White can still put up solid numbers when put into the right scenario. He’s got some skill, a good hockey sense, and some decent skating ability but just needs the right situation, which I think can be found with the Hawks. I can’t see him being any teams first selection when free agency opens up next week, so he’ll sit on the board for a while without a team. Chicago should at least inquire. 

I fully expect the Blackhawks to make a few surprising moves that many fans won’t really understand right away. High risk, high reward signings have now become a possibility, and Colin White is the perfect example. He never really found a home in Ottawa, and he fell out of their lineup quite fast. White dealt with plenty of injuries, and hadn’t been able to find his game with the Senators. A new home for him could pan out and turn into what will look like a steal of a contract if the Hawks bring him in for around $1.5-2M AAV.