Patrick Kane’s return has given the Blackhawks the headline of the offseason, but it also puts Kyle Davidson’s summer work in a very different light. Chicago landed Kane on a two-year, $16 million deal this past week, and the reunion instantly lit up a fanbase that knows exactly what he means to the franchise.
That move did not happen in a vacuum. Davidson also managed to reshape the roster in ways that should make the Blackhawks better next season, even before Connor Bedard is back in the mix. The result is a summer that looks far more productive now than it did when last season ended.
The biggest swing came with Bowen Byram. Chicago paid a real price to get him, including the fourth overall pick, but the Blackhawks clearly viewed that as the cost of doing business for a defenseman they believe can become a true No.
- The team did not have that kind of blueliner last season - the sort who can eat minutes, drive the power play, and produce from the back end.
If Byram reaches that level, he fills a major hole.
Kane, of course, is the move that changes the mood around everything else. The Blackhawks got the top remaining UFA without giving up any assets, and he checks a lot of boxes at once.
He fills a top-six need, could be the ideal linemate for Connor Bedard, and brings championship experience to a young group that can use it. He also gives the fanbase a jolt it badly wanted.
Davidson added some useful depth, too. Cole Smith and Jordan Greenway should bring more grit and sandpaper to the bottom six, while Ian Cole gives the young defensemen - including Artyom Levshunov and Sam Rinzel - a veteran to lean on.
There is also Roman Kantserov, one of the organization’s top prospects, who could become an x-factor in the forward group. Kane’s potential impact on Bedard has been the obvious talking point, but his presence could matter for the rest of the young core as well, especially Kantserov.
And for all the additions, Chicago did not give up much in the way of subtraction. The list of departures is Andre Burakovsky, Crevier, Matt Grzelcyk, Sam Lafferty, and Ilya Mikheyev. There are a couple of tough losses in there, but compared with what came in, the balance tilts heavily toward improvement.
That is why this offseason has to be viewed as a success for Davidson. Whether it is enough to push the Blackhawks into playoff talk is still an open question, but they are closer now than they were before. For Chicago, that counts as a productive summer.
In Other News...
Blackhawks Camp Battle Could Reshape The Net In Chicago
Training camp is set to put a little more pressure on the Blackhawks crease, where Drew Commesso and Arvid Soderblom are expected to compete for the backup job behind the starter. Commesso gave Chicago a promising look in limited NHL action last season and has continued to show well at the AHL level, while Soderblom brings the edge of experience after spending more time in the league.
The contrast makes this one of the more interesting roster decisions on the board for Chicago, especially with Commessos brief NHL sample suggesting he may already be ready for a larger role. Soderblom still has the advantage of familiarity and a longer track record, but his recent numbers leave the door open for a real challenge if Commesso carries his camp momentum into September. [Read more 🡒]
Connor Bedard Finally Addressed The Blackhawks Rumors Fans Feared Most
Connor Bedards long-term future with the Blackhawks is no longer a talking point, and the next chapter is already taking shape around him. The first overall pick in the 2023 NHL draft signed a five-year, $75 million extension, locking in the franchise centerpiece as Chicago continues building around a player it has treated as the face of the rebuild from the moment he arrived.
Patrick Kanes return only adds to the intrigue. Back on a two-year contract after three seasons away, the Blackhawks icon has made no secret of how much he is looking forward to playing alongside Bedard, even as Bedard recovers from successful shoulder surgery and is expected to miss about four months. For Chicago, the appeal is obvious: a familiar star is back, the young star is staying, and the organization can start imagining what that partnership might look like once Bedard is healthy again. [Read more 🡒]
Blackhawks Fans May Finally Get The Toews Ending They Wanted
Jonathan Toews may finally be headed toward the kind of ending many Blackhawks fans have wanted for years. General manager Kyle Davidson said the team would like to offer Toews a one-day contract so he can retire officially as a Blackhawk, following the same path the organization used for Marian Hossa. Toews retired in June after a comeback season with the Winnipeg Jets, and the idea would give one of the most important players in franchise history a formal finish in Chicago colors.
The timing is still unsettled, but both sides appear open to making it happen. Toews reacted positively to the possibility and also said he was happy for Patrick Kanes return to Chicago, which only adds to the sense that the old core still carries real meaning around the team. Davidson did not put a date on anything, but the interest on both ends suggests this is a matter of when, not if. [Read more 🡒]