The Blackhawks cannot be afraid of utilizing their biggest asset in free agency

This free agency already feels different. The amount of talent is weaker, a rising salary cap is allowing more teams to hold onto stars, and NHL teams seem to have waited for July 1 to start connecting with free agents.

The Chicago Blackhawks have been quiet to start free agency. Yes, the Hawks traded for Sam Lafferty, one of Kyle Davidson's former players, but besides that, it has been a quiet day in Chicago.

In the lead-up to free agency, it seemed likely the Blackhawks were going to be sitting this one out. Chicago was not going to be in on Mitch Marner and other top free agents like Nikolaj Ehlers and company. Yet, the Blackhawks do have the cap space to take advantage of teams in the coming days.

The Blackhawks have to start using their cap space.

The Chicago Blackhawks might not be interested in overpaying free agents, but they could take advantage of a team like Vegas, Edmonton or Florida up against the cap limit.

The Florida Panthers are going to have to to move on from a guy like Evan Rodriques to get under the salary cap after re-signing Brad Marchand, Aaron Ekblad and Sam Bennett — I am still shocked they managed to keep all three.

The Blackhawks should without a doubt take advantage of a team like the Panthers. Florida has a 22 year old former first round pick in Mackie Samoskevich currently as a restricted free agent. Chicago could sign him for $2 or 3 million and there would be a good chance Florida wouldn't be able to match that offer.

The same could be said in Vegas after the Golden Knights signed Mitch Marner. Vegas sits over the salary cap limit with guys like Cole Schwindt, Alex Holtz and Jonas Rondbjerg all waiting for new contracts as RFAs.

There are plenty of big name RFAs the Blackhawks could go after. Bowen Byran in Buffalo, Nicholas Robertson in Toronto or even Kaapo Kakko in Seattle could be interesting options.

The start of free agency has been quiet, but with so many teams right up against the cap limit, Chicago shouldn't be afraid of using an offer sheet or two to make their team better.