The Blackhawks have already done plenty of work to reshape their roster this offseason. They brought Patrick Kane back into the fold, landed Bowen Byram in a major deal with the Buffalo Sabres, and added depth with Ian Cole, Cole Smith, and Jordan Greenway.
Even with those moves in the books, there’s still a case for Chicago to keep its options open when training camp gets close. A professional tryout could be the right move, and among the remaining unrestricted free agents, Eeli Tolvanen stands out as a player worth a look.
Tolvanen fits the kind of profile a team trying to climb in 2026-27 should want. He brings secondary scoring, plays with an edge, and can handle work in all situations. That makes him a legitimate candidate for either a PTO or a contract before camp opens.
What makes Tolvanen even more intriguing is the production he has put up in recent seasons, which makes it surprising that he is still unsigned. Last season with the Kraken, he had 12 goals, 36 points, and 187 hits in 78 games.
The year before that, he set a career high with 23 goals, finished with 35 points, and piled up 237 hits in 81 games during the 2024-25 season. In 2023-24, he logged 16 goals and a career-best 41 points in 81 games for Seattle.
Those numbers make him an appealing camp invite on their own. He would give the Blackhawks another forward worth evaluating, and if things clicked, he could even give the top nine a lift.
There is, though, a reason Chicago might hesitate. The forward group is already crowded.
The Blackhawks have brought in several new forwards this offseason, and they also have prospects battling for opening-night jobs. Adding Tolvanen could end up squeezing out a young player who deserves a shot.
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Patrick Kanes return only adds another layer to the discussion, but not necessarily a reason to delay the decision. The Blackhawks are looking at a player in Bedard who figures to be part of the franchise for the long haul, while Kanes stay is expected to be shorter. With that in mind, the argument for making Bedard the captain now grows harder to ignore, even if the final call still carries plenty of weight inside the room. [Read more 🡒]