2025 Blackhawks offseason

[jersey cubs fan]

And now I see Powers and Laz did a pod ep called “should you be skeptical of Jeff Blashill”, so I’ll probably listen and smooth out my volatile response to the hire 

[Hot Sauce]

Minor trade today. Blackhawks have acquired Ryan Mast and Boston’s 7th round pick for Victor Söderström.

[jersey cubs fan]

3 hours ago, Hot Sauce said:

Minor trade today. Blackhawks have acquired Ryan Mast and Boston’s 7th round pick for Victor Söderström.

Depth for Rockford I guess 

[Hot Sauce]

Per Frank Seravalli, the 3rd overall pick is “in play” and the Hawks would trade it for a difference maker. 

[jersey cubs fan]

6 hours ago, Hot Sauce said:

Per Frank Seravalli, the 3rd overall pick is “in play” and the Hawks would trade it for a difference maker. 

 

That’s fine with me. 
 

the hawks traded Brandon hagel for a couple forwards and two first round picks that were destined to be late in the round. I’d like to see what they can get for Torontos pick this year and Floridas 1st next year. Maybe even throw in their own 2nds as sweetener, since they will still have their owns 1st and multiple seconds. 
 

The problem is there isn’t really a Blackhawks team obviously tanking and trading away good players in order to lose. Hagel would cost more in today’s market than he did a couple years ago. 

[jersey cubs fan]

Corey Pronman mocked the entire draft. He sends Frondell to the hawks in the first and then 6’1” LW Malcolm Spence at 25 and 6’5”+ Mason West at 34. He even has 6’4” Stepan Hoch going to Chicago with their other 2nd rounder, at 62

 

i get the narrative that with all the smallish fast guys they need size, but I really don’t want them passing on a guy because they think they are too small right now. Later in the first and in the second is where you get all your middle and bottom six guys. The top of the first is for potential superstars and you gotta take the guy with the best chance to be a star there. Go ahead and look for a type later. 
 

by the time these guys are all in the NHL, there will be other role players filling those spots. You don’t need two giants on every line. 
 

you take that same draft above and swap out Hagens for Frondell and you still have a lot of size on there 

[Hot Sauce]

3 hours ago, jersey cubs fan said:

That’s fine with me. 
 

the hawks traded Brandon hagel for a couple forwards and two first round picks that were destined to be late in the round. I’d like to see what they can get for Torontos pick this year and Floridas 1st next year. Maybe even throw in their own 2nds as sweetener, since they will still have their owns 1st and multiple seconds. 
 

The problem is there isn’t really a Blackhawks team obviously tanking and trading away good players in order to lose. Hagel would cost more in today’s market than he did a couple years ago. 

I can’t think of too many “difference makers” whose names are out there right now. Jason Robertson?

[Hot Sauce]

47 minutes ago, jersey cubs fan said:

Corey Pronman mocked the entire draft. He sends Frondell to the hawks in the first and then 6’1” LW Malcolm Spence at 25 and 6’5”+ Mason West at 34. He even has 6’4” Stepan Hoch going to Chicago with their other 2nd rounder, at 62

 

i get the narrative that with all the smallish fast guys they need size, but I really don’t want them passing on a guy because they think they are too small right now. Later in the first and in the second is where you get all your middle and bottom six guys. The top of the first is for potential superstars and you gotta take the guy with the best chance to be a star there. Go ahead and look for a type later. 
 

by the time these guys are all in the NHL, there will be other role players filling those spots. You don’t need two giants on every line. 
 

you take that same draft above and swap out Hagens for Frondell and you still have a lot of size on there 

I prefer Frondell and Desnoyers to Hagens. Schaefer is the only player in this draft that I think is a bonafide star. After that, Misa seems a sure bet to be a top 6 forward. Frondell, Desnoyers, Hagens, and Martone round out the third group and it's a pick 'em situation with them. Frondell and Desnoyers represent the most well-rounded, complete players of the group and the likeliest of the three to be solid NHL players, even if they aren't stars. That's why the choice is between them for me. Also could be how the Blackhawks view them and why they are willing to listen to offers for the 3rd pick.

[jersey cubs fan]

Blackhawks signed Donato, 4 years, $4m AAV.

that sounds like a reasonable deal to me. He may have gotten a little more on open market, but this is a little more than some people suggested 4 months ago. 

[UMFan83]

12 minutes ago, jersey cubs fan said:

Blackhawks signed Donato, 4 years, $4m AAV.

that sounds like a reasonable deal to me. He may have gotten a little more on open market, but this is a little more than some people suggested 4 months ago. 

Seems like a solid deal for both sides. I’m happy about it. 

[Hot Sauce]

44 minutes ago, jersey cubs fan said:

Blackhawks signed Donato, 4 years, $4m AAV.

that sounds like a reasonable deal to me. He may have gotten a little more on open market, but this is a little more than some people suggested 4 months ago. 

Love it!

[Hot Sauce]

The Stars have extended Matt Duchesne, 4-years, $4.5 million AAV.

I can’t see how they keep Robertson.

[Hot Sauce]

Blackhawks have acquired LW Andre Burakovsky for Joe Veleno. 

[jersey cubs fan]

When people said don’t expect the Blackhawks to splurge on a bunch of middle six guys in free agency like they did last year, they were right. Instead they’ll just overpay somebody else’s free agent contract via trade. This is exactly the type of player they do not need. Was a 4th liner on a lottery team 

 

 

 

he could end up on the top line if this team by default though. But there’s a half dozen guys in same situation 

Edited June 21, 2025 by jersey cubs fan

[Hot Sauce]

14 minutes ago, jersey cubs fan said:

When people said don’t expect the Blackhawks to splurge on a bunch of middle six guys in free agency like they did last year, they were right. Instead they’ll just overpay somebody else’s free agent contract via trade. This is exactly the type of player they do not need. Was a 4th liner on a lottery team 

 

 

 

he could end up on the top line if this team by default though. But there’s a half dozen guys in same situation 

I don't mind the trade. Burakovsky has two years remaining at 2.75m AAV, so the cost is minimal. Both players fell short of expectations in their NHL careers. This is basically a pretty even one-for-one swap with the Hawks coming away with the slightly more valuable player. 

[Hot Sauce]

More Blackhawks news. Per Elliotte Friedman, TJ Brodie has been placed on waivers for the purpose of a buyout. 

[NorthsideAvenger]

1 hour ago, Hot Sauce said:

More Blackhawks news. Per Elliotte Friedman, TJ Brodie has been placed on waivers for the purpose of a buyout. 

Probably the end for Brodie in the NHL. 

[Tim]

There are rumors of San Jose preferring Frondell to Misa, which would make Misa available to the Hawks at #3. Very probably false, but here's hoping.

[Hot Sauce]

13 hours ago, Tim said:

There are rumors of San Jose preferring Frondell to Misa, which would make Misa available to the Hawks at #3. Very probably false, but here's hoping.

There were rumors of Anaheim preferring Carlsson at #2 in 2023 and those turned out to be true. I can't see the Islanders passing on Schaefer, but if they did San Jose is most certainly taking him.

I still think the order is...

1. Schaefer, NYI
2. Misa, SJ
3. Frondell, CHI

... and I will be very happy to have Frondell in Chicago. 

[Derwood]

I am still thrilled that Anaheim took Carlsson 😉

[jersey cubs fan]

The athletic ranked every nhl roster’s center situation. Here is Chicago:

26. Chicago Blackhawks

Current quality: 23rd percentile
Looking for: High-end center, middle-six center

Perhaps no team is better situated to have its needs met by internal candidates than the Blackhawks. Connor Bedard isn’t a high-end first-liner yet — but can he be? Obviously. And it might happen soon. Frank Nazar isn’t a quality middle-six center yet — but can he be? Obviously. And it might happen soon.

Behind those two is Jason Dickinson, a solid bottom-sixer. In a perfect world, Chicago would add someone in the middle of the mix to stabilize things and help both Bedard and Nazar reach their potential. In the meantime, they’re closer to the bottom of these rankings than the middle.

[Hot Sauce]

3 hours ago, Derwood said:

I am still thrilled that Anaheim took Carlsson 😉

Rightly so. I love Fantilli. 

[NorthsideAvenger]

Duncan Keith, Hall of Famer.

[Hot Sauce]

Draft day is finally here!

Edited June 27, 2025 by Hot Sauce

[Tim]

I'm okay with Hagens.

I'm fine with Desnoyers or Martone.

I'm happy with Frondell.

But I'm loving the increasing buzz about Misa slipping to the Hawks at #3.