Blackhawks general manager Kyle Davidson settled one issue definitively Wednesday night when he said the team sees center Connor Beddard as a dead end. So hopefully, she’ll carve the 17-year-old Wonder Woman’s name in stone in the number one spot for the next 15 years or so.
Meanwhile, Seth Jones is tied for in the lineup in the best defensive pairings for the next seven seasons.
after that? Given all six of the bottom six options already under contract, and the four veteran forwards — Taylor Hall, Ryan Donato, Nick Foligno and Corey Perry — Chicago brought through free agency?
Hey, that’s anyone’s guess. So here it is for us.
attackers
Taylor Hall – Conor Bedard – Tyler Johnson
Lucas Richell – Andreas Athanasio – Ryan Donato
Philip Kurachev – Jason Dickinson – Taylor Radish
Nick Foligno – Colin Blackwell – Corey Perry
Extras: Mackenzie Entwistle, Cole Guttman, Rhys Johnson, Boris Katchuk
Andreas Athanasio: The Blackhawks seemed to find some chemistry between Athanasio and Rachel late last season. Athanasiou could have a crack in the center again, too.
Connor Bedard: The Blackhawks will do everything they can to ensure Bedard’s success this season. The hall is logically linear on the top line. There are a variety of options on the right wing.
Colin Blackwell: There are maybe four and five strikers who don’t have a fixed place in the lineup. Blackwell will likely be in the mix. He’s coming off a disappointing offensive season, but brings a defensive element that this team might need.
Jason Dickinson: Dickinson was the Blackhawks’ best defensive player last season, according to analytics. He will be required to play a major role in the confrontation against the major centers and in the penalty for murder.
Ryan DonatoDonato: Donato was the main signing for the Blackhawks opening with free agency. The Black Hawks see him as a top-six right winger who can also move positions if needed elsewhere in the lineup. He scored 14 goals and 13 assists in 71 games with the Seattle Kraken last season.
Mackenzie Entwistle: Entwistle will be another one who will have to fight for his ice time. He appeared in 66 games last season.
Nick Foligno: Foligno, like Donato, is someone the Blackhawks can move around the lineup in different positions. Maybe it’s better suited now to the bottom sixth, but it has some flexibility. He had 10 goals and 16 assists with the Boston Bruins last season.
Cole Gottman: Gottman underwent right shoulder stabilization surgery in March. It’s not clear if he’ll be all set to go once training camp begins. Once he’s ready to play, you’d expect him to enter the lineup in the top nine role, further complicating the situation for players like Blackwell, Entwistle and Reese Johnson.
Taylor Hall: Hall is excited to take on a bigger role again after being pushed down the lineup with the Bruins. The former MVP and No. 1 overall pick could also become a great commercial chip either next spring or next spring if he taps with Bedard.
Reese Johnson: Johnson is another player who did not secure the same role he played last season. But his speed, physicality and ability to take the penalty kick can work in his favour. His drive made him a favorite with the coaching staff.
Tyler Johnson: Johnson’s hockey sense and ability make him a good fit to play alongside Hall and Bedard. The key may be finding someone willing to be a distributor for Hall and Bedard.
Boris Ketchuk: Kachuk was part of one of the Blackhawks’ best late-season lines. He could be in the running for a similar six-down role again, but he’s crowded. The NHL is expected to soon release its report on allegations of sexual assault by unknown players on the 2018 Canada World Junior Team. Ketchouk was a player in this team.
Philip Kurachev: Kurashev was the only restricted free agent to receive a qualifying offer from the Blackhawks. He can play almost anywhere in the Blackhawks lineup.
Corey Perry: As much as Blackhawks fans hate Perry now, they’re going to love him soon enough. That’s always how it works with guys like that. Another former Hart Trophy winner, he still has some fuel in the tank, having scored 31 goals over the past two seasons with Tampa Bay.
Lucas Richell: Hall’s arrival allows Rachel to separate from Bedard and learn to pilot his own line, rather than be Bedard’s distributor. He’s another guy who could theoretically play center back, but he’s played almost exclusively left wing in the NHL. Bedard is the better guy now, but the Blackhawks still expect big things from Rachel.
Taylor Radish: With the departures of Patrick Kane and Max Dumy, Radish has perhaps the best shot in the squad. Given a major role for the first time in his career, he scored 20 goals last season. It’s another right-handed choice for Hall and Bedard. Like Kachuk, Radish was on Canada’s 2018 World Junior Team.
Defensemen
Kevin Korczynski – Seth Jones
Alex Vlasic – Connor Murphy
Jared Tenordi – Nikita Zaitsev
Extras: White Kaiser, Isaac Phillips, Philip Ross
Seth Jones: Jones began to look like his old self in the second half of last season, which should have come as a relief for the Blackhawks. He could be quite the partner – and mentor – of Kevin Korczynski if the 19-year-old breaks the lineup. With Kane and Toews gone, and Bedard just getting started, this is Team Jones now.
Kevin Korczynski: Korchinski will get plenty of chances to earn a spot on next season’s roster. There’s always a chance he could start the season with the Blackhawks and finish the season somewhere else. It probably makes financial sense for the Blackhawks to burn out the season with his contract.
White Kaiser: Kaizer may be in the starting lineup on defense after turning professional late last season. The Blackhawks might also start him in the AHL and give him plenty of ice time.
Connor Murphy: Murphy isn’t the same player he was three seasons ago, when he emerged as the Blackhawks’ most reliable defenseman, but he’s still a consistent presence at the back end. If the Blackhawks decide to name a captain in the fall (Luke Richardson said that hasn’t been decided yet), the tallest Blackhawk (to date) would be an obvious choice.
Isaac Phillips: The 21-year-old, 6-3 Blueliner was far from home in 16 NHL games last season. He may not start the season in Chicago, but he may be first in line in Rockford.
Philip Ross: The Blackhawks have a few points of defense in the air. Roos should be in the competition. He played in 17 NHL games last season.
Jared Tenordy: Tenordi made a huge impact on and off the ice last season, prompting the Blackhawks to bring him back despite the glut of young defensemen knocking on the NHL’s door. Luke Richardson is a huge fan of Tinordi, but if those expectations break that door, it’s going to be easy to push Tinordi into a spinning role.
Alex Vlasic: It’s possible that Vlasic has graduated to a full-time role in the NHL, but he’ll have to show that again in training camp. The Blackhawks liked the step he took in his development last season.
Nikita Zaitsev: Zaitsev didn’t look good at all in his short stint in Chicago last season; There’s a reason Ottawa was looking to release his contract. For now, he’ll be a two-man who can rotate when better options present themselves.
goal
Arvid Soderblom: The Blackhawks see Soderblom as their No. 1 goaltender of the future, but he will likely enter the season as a backup guard, or at most a 1B on the depth chart. Don’t be surprised if he owns the net by the end of the season.
Peter Murzuq: Mrazik had good stretches last season, but for the most part, he played the role he was brought in to play – a temporary hiatus. Often injured and rarely in control, ideally Mrazek would be replaced by Drew Commesso, possibly as soon as in 2024-25.
(Top photo by Taylor Hall: Joel Auerbach/Getty Images)
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