Blackhawks: Signing Kevin Connauton

Looking into the next free agent profile, we have 6'2, 205 pound defenseman Kevin Connauton who's contract with the Flyers has now run out, and becomes an unrestricted free agent. Last season with the Flyers, Connauton put up 3 points through 39 games with a -3. Through 360 games in the NHL, the 32 year old has 28 goals and 52 assists with a +5. Connauton has battled injuries his entire career, most recently missing time due to a leg injury suffered against the Maple Leafs in late April.

""The Canucks originally drafted [Connauton] for some obvious reasons. He is gifted offensively, and he has a rocket of a shot"

- Bleacher Report, 2012.

Once viewed as a future offensive defenseman that could be a go to player on any powerplay, while providing production with goals from the blue line at 5v5, Connauton's battles with injuries haven't turned him into the star that some people once thought he could be. With that being said, he still has an impressive two way game that can be utilized by any team that picks him up if he stays healthy, and it wouldn't be a hefty price tag.

The Blackhawks could bring Connauton in for depth. As fans saw last year, the teams defensive play was some of the worst they had seen in years. Seth Jones did step his game up, Caleb Jones is still young and has some room to improve, but the Hawks need answers now. A cheap, 1-2 year deal worth around 800k would be a low risk, high reward contract that would benefit both Connauton and the Blackhawks. Like I've mentioned in previous profiles, those types of deals are what rebuilding teams need, and Connauton falls right into that category.

His size, along with being a left shot are both attributes that will be appealing to a number of teams. Even if it's a two way contract, Connauton adding internal competition to the bottom 4 would not only drive everyone around him to be better, but it could be the opportunity Connauton himself needed to finally find his offensive game that scouts years ago were drooling over.