One pending free agent the Blackhawks can steal from their Central Division rivals this summer

Scott Wedgewood, Goaltender/Dallas Stars

We all know somebody needs to replace Arvid Soderblom next year, and even with a weaker goaltending class in free agency, there isn’t a single netminder out there who wouldn’t be an upgrade. Scott Wedgewood is another one who could be looking to continue his career in a new city next season if he doesn’t stay with the Dallas Stars, and he could help bring a winning mentality that has made them so tough to beat this year. 

Wedgewood wouldn’t beat out Petr Mrazek for the starting goaltender job, but he’s a proven 1B who has enjoyed two solid full seasons with the Stars, and portions of another. Last year, he thrived with a 2.72 GAA, a 0.915 save percentage, and a 0.722 quality starts percentage with a shutout. While his numbers haven’t been as good this year, he’s been far better overall than during the earliest days of his career. 

Signing Wedgewood would also give the Blackhawks goaltenders already in the system a chance to keep honing their respective games, so a one-year deal would suffice in this scenario. In the following year, someone like Jaxson Stauber will be more than ready to join full-time, so signing someone like Wedgewood makes a lot of sense.