The Chicago Blackhawks need to extend these three players

Nick Foligno

The Hawks do not have a captain this season after moving on from their long-time leader and franchise icon Jonathan Toews. The belief is the "C" will eventually go to Bedard once he is ready to take up that leadership position.

Foligno has stepped up to be what many consider to be the team's de facto captain.

He has been a captain before with the Columbus Blue Jackets. He was brought in to be an excellent locker-room presence for a young team. He has been just that.

He is set to be a free agent after the season. He is currently making $4 million and has been productive skating on the third line. Foligno currently has six goals and nine assists on the season.

General manager Kyle Davidson has to wait until January 1st to start talking about another contract. The impact Foligno has made both on and off the ice is worth keeping him around for at least another season.

Colin Blackwell

He just returned to the ice after being out since last February. His career numbers are not eye-popping. This dude plays hard every night. Blackwell can deliver a powerful hit.

The Chicago Blackhawks are going to need guys like him around to set an example of how hard you need to play (and hit). He might be a third or fourth-line center, but this team has gotten killed when it has lacked intensity. Blackwell goes hard every time he touches the ice.

He is wrapping up a deal that is paying him $1.2 million. The Hawks have plenty of cap space to bring him back at a similar pay scale because they need as many hard-working players as possible until the more talented prospects arrive.