The Blackhawks ultimate checklist for a successful 2024 offseason

Draft the absolute best player available 

Although it was predictable, the Blackhawks hit a home run with Connor Bedard. But that needs to happen at least one more time, as Chicago is destined to get another top-four pick. After I made nearly two-dozen simulations at Tankathon, the Blackhawks rarely even landed outside the top three, and they also snagged the No. 1 overall spot on three occasions. 

If the No. 1 pick last season meant Connor Bedard, it would mean Macklin Celebrini this time around, and like Bedard, he should jump right into the NHL unless an unforeseen setback occurs. But even if Chicago isn’t lucky enough to land the top pick for two years running, it doesn’t mean they’re out of luck, considering the sheer talent in this draft class. 

In Tankathon’s April 9th mock draft, they have Chicago taking Ivan Demidov of the MHL, whom Tankathon has ranked second. Regardless of where, presumably in the top four (even the top three, per the simulation), the Blackhawks pick, Davidson must roll with the absolute best player on his board and get them into the NHL as soon as possible. 

That said, if they aren’t NHL-ready, there is no need to rush them. But anyone drafted in that top four needs to learn how to be contributors sooner rather than later. 

Don’t be afraid to add another dose of veteran leadership

So far, we have talked about the importance of Kyle Davidson identifying and retaining his best restricted free agents and even those he believes have a bright future with the Blackhawks, and the importance of hitting another home run on draft day. The faster he fills the big club’s lineup with NHL-ready youngsters, the quicker they will mesh, and the sooner this organization will return to relevancy, but veteran leadership must also be a priority. 

We have discussed this previously with some potential low-cost free agents who could come to town with sound experience and can help guide Chicago through another year of building. Players like Nick Foligno, Jason Dickinson, Petr Mrazek, and Seth Jones are already in the building, but Davidson shouldn’t be afraid to go further if he has the space in the projected lineup. 

The more leadership this team has for the 2024-25 season, the better, and potentially, the faster this group’s youngest players will develop. No, signing stopgaps who wouldn’t be in town longer than two seasons tops isn’t the most exciting idea, especially with the amount of cap space Chicago has. But younger talent must be the key priority when it comes to using that space, and that leads us to the final section of the ultimate checklist.  

Keep the door open for prospects who could land with the big club

Another reason Kyle Davidson must roll with an older, more cost-effective group for the upcoming offseason is that it is inevitable that he will have prospects who may not be NHL-ready at the moment earn a chance to compete in the big league at some point in 2024-25. 

Even if this isn’t something that will, or should, occur early in the season, Chicago’s prospects pool is an outstanding bunch, and they should comprise the team’s not-so-distant future. This isn’t to say that Davidson shouldn’t go after the big-name free agent or a major trade acquisition in time. It just doesn’t need to happen in the summer of 2024 or even during the 2024-25 season. This is a year when it’s best to resist adding top-end talent to the organization and instead add another layer to the foundation. 

No, there is also no guarantee the method will work. But if the endgame involves maximizing the organization’s overall window of opportunity, and it should with such a young group, taking a more calculated approach is the best way to go about it. 

Sure, Davidson could choose not to extend the current RFAs and make blockbuster moves all he wants this summer. But there are also no guarantees that method will work either, and it would also come with the inevitable shortening the window of success. Such a method may have been feasible with Patrick Kane in town, but long-term success should be key with Connor Bedard. 

(Statistics provided by Hockey-Reference)