Blackhawks All But Set As Free Agency Begins

NHL Free Agency starts today but the Chicago Blackhawks aren’t expected to be major players in a market that is not as deep as year’s past.

Chicago General Manager Kyle Davidson admitted that there may not be much for fans to watch the news for.

“I tried to get ahead by trading for our guys,” Davidson said.  “We’ll hopefully get Corey signed here in short order and then we’ll be relatively close to done. We’re looking at a couple options out there, but the heavy lifting is certainly finished for us.”

Perry, of course, was signed to a one-year, $4M deal which wasn’t exactly heralded by many fans in Chicago. The move is another to bring in veterans that can help the younger core being built.

But beyond Davidson being all but done, there won’t be as much to choose form in free agency.

Only Kurashev is Left–Youth Movement to Ease In

It’s Philipp Kurashev who is left to sign, but it wouldn’t be surprising if Connor Bedard gets a deal sometime soon. That’s all but expected and will be another aspect that will excite the fanbase–inching him another step closer to Chicago’s big club.

Davidson also explained why Caleb Jones wouldn’t be tendered a deal.

“The thought process there is we’re likely going to give a look to some of our younger defensemen, give them the opportunity to fight it out in training camp, whoever that may be amongst the group, and it’s a key time in Caleb’s career,” Davidson said. “Being in and out of the lineup, I’m not sure that necessarily helps him. Just give him the freedom to find a new team, a new home and establish a long-term relationship somewhere else, where I thought he was going to get blocked out with us.”

One of those young defenseman have to be Kevin Korchinski, who has a chance to duke it out and find his way into Chicago early on. Isaak Phillips and Wyatt Kaiser will also be duking it out. What could be fun for Blackhawks fans during the preseason is seeing which of the risers, be it Nolan Allan, Ethan Del Mastro, or Korchinski could realistically push for a job.

While free agency won’t exactly be must watch, the prospect camps and preseason certainly will be.