Chicago Blackhawks set to steal 25-year-old gritty forward from the Boston Bruins: A Don Sweeney mistake

Jakub Lauko, a 25-year-old forward, remains without a contract after the Boston Bruins chose not to make him a qualifying offer on July 1.

Now that he's a free agent, he could generate interest from teams looking to add offensive depth and grit to their bottom six.

Last season, he put up career-best numbers with five goals and 11 points in 56 games for the Minnesota Wild and Boston Bruins. He also tallied 119 hits and wasn't shy about throwing his weight around.

The Blackhawks, who could enter their breakout season, could use a player like Lauko. He's the kind of depth piece that can bring energy to a young locker room while eating minutes on the fourth line.

More importantly, he plays both center and wing, giving Chicago flexibility with their bottom-six rotation.

Lauko was originally selected by the Bruins in the third round of the 2018 NHL Draft. After a brief stop in Minnesota, he returned to Boston in a deal that included Marat Khusnutdinov.

In 139 career NHL games, he scored 28 points, while also collecting 51 points across four AHL seasons.

During his junior days, Lauko made noise with the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies in the QMJHL by scoring 41 points in 43 games and followed that up with 13 points in the playoffs and eight more in the Memorial Cup tournament.

While there's no confirmation yet, a PTO or short-term deal from the Blackhawks makes a lot of sense.

With Pat Maroon's retirement, there's a hole to fill on the team. Grit and toughness are required, especially on a team with as many youngsters. Lauko would provide exactly that.