Chicago Hockey Insider has no direct affiliation to the Chicago Blackhawks, NHL or NHLPA
4 Blackhawks Who Could Get An Extension Soon
Photo credit: Choose Chicago
As March rolls around, the Chicago Blackhawks will have to prioritize who to keep and who to trade. Here are four Blackhawks who could sign an extension.
The Chicago Blackhawks will have to consider who to keep around, as the future is still opaque.
With the rebuild continuing, GM Kyle Davidson will have to be surgical with his decisions of who to trade, and who to extend.
The Blackhawks at the moment only have $8.1 Million in salary cap space and they last signed Landon Slaggert in early October.
Blackhawks To Be Extended Soon
GM Kyle Davidson will have to prioritize with very little cap space at the moment until the salary cap is raised this summer.
Who should Davidson target first?
Connor Bedard is the legitimate future of the Chicago Blackhawks. He is in the 2nd-year of his entry-level contract he signed in 2023, which pays him $950K AAV. He could sign a long-term deal in July and could be with an 8-year term given that he's a 1st overall pick and a former Calder Trophy winner.
Arvid Soderblom has set himself apart with his performance this season stepping in while Petr Mrazek was out on injury.
This work he put into his game this summer, has been nothing short of fantastic , he has been a dependable goalie for the Blackhawks.
If anything he is the new #1 in Chicago, and the Blackhawks should consider a new plan for Mrazek.
Soderblom has a 2.73 GAA and .910 SV% through 15 starts, but has appeared in 10 of the last 13 games for the Blackhawks.
Donato started in humble beginnings with the Blackhawks as a fourth liner and has punched far above his weight this season. In 37 games with the Blackhawks, he's scored 22 points( 11 G, 11 A), and his contract is set to expire in 2025.
The Blackhawks could afford to shop him and get a decent return for him. With more prospects trickling into Rockford, the team will have to consider who to promote, and who to move.
While myself, I'd extend Donato I'm not Kyle Davidson, and I don't know his plans for him. Either start negotiations now or prepare for a trade to keep the rebuild chugging.
Wyatt Kaiser is in year 3 of his contract which he signed in 2022-2023 which pays him $916K.
He has proven himself to be a capable defensive-defenseman, with a bit of offensive upside to his game.
He's taking on special team's duties, killing penalties, and is skating with veteran Seth Jones.
While he likely won't get the deal Alex Vlasic got, GM Kyle Davidson, should re-sign him when possible. The team could sign him to a "Prove-It" deal on a bridge contract to give him more time to develop reward him for his play down the road.
| POLL | ||
JANVIER 5 | 203 ANSWERS 4 Blackhawks Who Could Get An Extension Soon If you were GM Kyle Davidson of the Chicago Blackhawks who would you extend? | ||
| Arvid Soderblom | 20 | 9.9 % |
| Connor Bedard | 133 | 65.5 % |
| Wyatt Kaiser | 15 | 7.4 % |
| Ryan Donato | 35 | 17.2 % |
| List of polls | ||
