The Chicago Blackhawks can anything but statistically eliminated from the play -offs in 2025, but that does not mean that the general manager, coach or players should call it a season. There is much to do to prepare the team to come back stronger next season, because the Blackhawks want to take a step forward to take a step soon.
GM Kyle Davidson has a very important task, because there will be tons of cap space for the team to use, even if future contract extensions are considered to players such as Connor Bedard. Chicago cannot only rely on the youth to drag them out of this rebuilding, other pieces must be added.
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I am not talking about most veterans who brought in the last season because we have seen how that is depicted. The Blackhawks need players who can make a difference. As potential goals to swallow as the second line center, two younger players with several years NHL experience will probably be traded and are linked to the Blackhawks.
The fourth period has both Dylan Canens and Trevor Zegras connected to Chicago and both can be moved very well before the Trade Deadline this season. The Blackhawks would do better this season to acquire one, so there are a number of competitions for them to settle and possibly find chemistry.
Usually transactions for players with several years on their contracts are made easier in the low season, but the Blackhawks and both the Buffalo Sabres and Anaheim Ducks are all out of the Playoff race and have CAP space to do something now.
Canens and Zegras are fairly different players, so it can be a matter of preference for the Blackhawks if they indeed try to acquire a second line center.
Cosens is more physical, but has taken a step back each of the past two seasons. At the age of 21 he scored 31 goals and 68 points, so he has that power. He absolutely needs a change in environment with 10 goals and 26 points in 52 games this season.
Zegras needs a change in the environment for longer, because his back-to-back 23 goal, 60+ point seasons seem so long ago. In reality, injuries and a coach who do not intervene well with the type of player he is not good for the skilled center in the past two seasons. He is also only 23 and has proven that when he is healthy and free, he can offer a lot of scoring.
There are of course several other teams that are connected to cozens and seals, but the Blackhawks must be at the top of the list. They have a need that can be filled in and it would help them go to play -offs faster than wait for many of their prospects to develop to roll that wait to be filled.
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