Quietly opening free agency shows Blackhawks want young players to take the lead

The Chicago Blackhawks started the NHL free agency on a quiet note, making just two moves. They brought back forward Sam Lafferty in a trade with the Buffalo Sabres and signed forward Dominic Toninato to a two-year contract deal.

These decisions show the team is focused and dedicated to getting their rebuild on the right track. Instead of going after big-name free agents such as Nikolaj Ehlers and Brock Boeser, the Blackhawks are choosing to let their young players take the lead.

Toninato, 31, signed a two-year contract deal with a cap hit of $850,000. He could fit into the bottom six for the Blackhawks or play for their AHL affilate, the Rockford IceHogs.

Lafferty, 30, returns to Chicago after being traded in 2023. The Blackhawks gave the Sabres a 2026 sixth-round draft pick to bring him back. He had 32 points (15 goals, 17 assists) in 97 games in two seasons with the Blackhawks before being traded. He has one year left on his $2 million contract, which he signed with the Sabres on July 1, 2024. Lafferty is a bottom forward depth player and a penalty kill contributor.

General manager Kyle Davidson has made it clear that the Blackhawks rebuild will take time. "This takes time. We knew it would take time," Davidson said back in January 2025. "There's nothing that's gone on in our prospect group or the development of our young players that's causing me concern. We are in the process of a rebuild here, and it's going to be on the backs of our younger players and prospects." The team is building around young talent like Connor Bedard, Frank Nazar, Oliver Moore, and Alex Vlasic. By keeping free agency on a low note, the Blackhawks are making sure those young players get more ice time and the chance to grow.

Davidson said earlier this year that he feels "optimistic" about the rebuild and the team wants to build "the right way" and not rush the process. That means saving cap space and not filling up the team with too many veterans and let the young players step up.

The quiet start to free agency may not be what the fans wanted, but it fits the team's long-term plan of having a successful rebuild. The Blackhawks can still make more moves later this summer if the right player becomes available. But now, the focus is staying patient, and developing their younger talent.