Blackhawks Bottom Line

Blackhawks Bottom Line: Jaycob Megna Aided A Wounded Team

Published

12 months ago

May 1, 2024

Nate Brown

Over the course of the next month, Chicago Hockey Now will be profiling every Chicago Blackhawks player from the 2023-24 season. Today, will be defenseman Jaycob Megna.

Jaycob Megna
Center/Wing
Games Played: 44
(Goals – Assists – Points): 0-2-2
Contract Status: UFA

The Short View

Added via waivers, Megna was precisely what the Blackhawks needed–a depth defenseman who could log minutes and fill in gaps for a team ravaged by injury. He wasn’t going to move the needle any more for a team that had a laundry list of issues, but he did what he was asked to do.

The Long View

With Kyle Davidson improving the team and likely making a sizable one on the blue line, it’s unlikely that Megna plays as much in Chicago if he’s offered a contract at all. Depth wise, he’s likelier to be a leader in Rockford than even a seventh defenseman on what should be a far deeper unit of defensemen.

The Bottom Line for Jaycob Megna

The Blackhawks can’t have a season like they did in 2023-24 with long stretches of losses combined with patchwork on the roster for injured players. Megna fulfilled his role–providing depth for a team absolutely decimated by injury. But the Hawks will need stronger pairings for younger players like Kevin Korchinski, or Ethan Del Mastro, who likely is up all of next season. Megna was a pro’s pro in a situation that let him log NHL minutes while giving the Blackhawks a professional defenseman to fill in due to injury.

But next season likely sees Megna elsewhere–or if he is offered a deal–a mainstay in Rockford and called up to fill in if the injury bug kicks in once more.

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