Team: 2018-19 Chicago Blackhawks

Initial Creation Date: Mar. 1, 2018

Published: Mar. 1, 2018

Salary Cap Mode: Basic

These are the only players guaranteed from my perspective that are "locks" for a roster spot or will be on this team in the fall.

My point of this is to show just how much improvement can be made and needs to be made going forward to the draft and into free agency.

I placed a few players on LTIR just because it's assumed they are traded.

This is merely a template for next season. So how to you build around this?

Of course anything can happen, but I'm pretty confident these guys will be here next fall unless Bowman gets a deal he can't refuse

Anisimov and Murphy have a good chance at being traded. I would give Anisimov a better chance tho. Which is why they're not on the roster... It's not because they suck - it's because they could be used to make improvements and they're idea trade chips for players that would better fit this team.

Let's just say they're being shopped for the right price.. Offers are being taken. They would be great assets to make "hockey trades"

DeBincat, Schmaltz, Duclair, Hayden and Sikura (assuming he's signed) are the only "locks" as far as the kids are concerned. And I could see Bowman trading 2 of them for improvements. IMO DeBrincat and Schmaltz are locks and basically untouchable unless a GM gives up the Moon.

The rest will either make the team or be assigned to Rockford.

That's 10 roster spots that need to be filled at 2.9 per roster spot on average.

Stan Bowman has A LOT to work with here, and a lot of cap space to work with as well...