Bedard

Team: 2023-24 Chicago Blackhawks

Initial Creation Date: Jan. 6, 2023

Published: Jan. 6, 2023

Salary Cap Mode: Basic

I think the more the blackhawks solidify the best odds in the lottery, the more likely Kane is to stay. I can't say the same about Toews, I think he ultimately ends up in Colorado playing for his childhood hero Joe Sakic.

Bedard is going to have some influence on pending UFAs, and I think a player/agent may look at Chicago and see a solid window to win AND get paid. You can't say that about many teams. Yes, there will be some growing pains.

Realistically with Bedard, the hawks are still 3-4 years away from playoffs, by adding free agents, that number could be cut in half.

Adding a PP QB in Gostisbehere
Adding 90-100 goals between Bedard, JVR, and Horvat.
Taking a chance on a former vezina caliber goalie

The Hawks will have Johnson, Mrazek, JVR, Donskoi, Dickinson, Andersen, Keith's recapture penalty, Connolly and Borgstrom buyouts off the books next season with a significant cap bump expected. There's opportunity for the kids to step up and/or the hawks swing for one of the many big fish UFAs in 2024. There's significant opportunity for this team to accelerate the rebuild if it chooses. I don't think they will based on KD's history so far. He wants to build this team from the ground up.