Blackhawks general manager Kyle Davidson has been a busy man over the past several days as he has locked up several new players to his roster. This has left the Blackhawks with a new problem in their roster construction as they now have too many forwards signed to contracts.
Kyle Davidson was one busy guy yesterday for the #Blackhawks , signing;
-Teuvo Teravainen
-Tyler Bertuzzi
-Laurent Brossoit
-Alec Martinez
-T.J Brodie
-Pat Maroon
-Craig SmithWhat grade do you give him? pic.twitter.com/IRHQcUiN99
— Just Another Year Chicago: Blackhawks (@JAYBlackhawks) July 2, 2024
Davidson brought four new forwards in Tyler Bertuzzi, Teuvo Teravainen, Pat Maroon and Craig Smith who will compliment the offence which have the likes of Taylor Hall, Nick Foligno, Lukas Reichel and Connor Bedard.
“I thought there’s no way it’s going to work out again and it just did … We’ll see if we’re right.”
– Kyle Davidson on getting all the players the front office wanted for the third draft in a row pic.twitter.com/XArxh5Gpza
— CHGO Blackhawks (@CHGO_Blackhawks) June 29, 2024
It’s become clear the team now has 16 forwards which are far too many for what is required for an NHL franchise. Davidson along with head coach Luke Richardson will need to make decisions on who they will choose to remain with the team and either cut or send down to the Rockford Icehogs.
Which means that Joey Anderson who was recently re signed, is on the outside looking in, deemed ‘’the odd man out”
Two years into the Blackhawks’ rebuild, their players now vividly understand what rebuilding entails.
But in some cases, their patience is beginning to thin.
“I would tell management today, ‘Go sign a bunch of free agents.’”
New story: https://t.co/jPUJeOVBhx
— Ben Pope (@BenPopeCST) April 27, 2024
The Blackhawks also will be testing their youth has several players including Frank Nazar and Cole Guttman may want to push for a job as well.
Yesterday was a big day for the #Blackhawks and Kyle Davidson. Here’s a rundown of all the additions and welcome backs from the opening of free agency with quotes from Chicago’s GMhttps://t.co/l6OKtRCGPp
— CHGO Blackhawks (@CHGO_Blackhawks) July 2, 2024
This issue is common with teams that are rebuilding as they have numerous draft picks that are well beyond the standard amount of draft picks a team is issued through trade. It’s likely that Davidson will need to package some players even though it sounds counter intuitive.
Some players cannot fit the lineup as others will surpass them and they can be used to help bolster the front lines and the defence which will make the Blackhawks better in the long run.
It’s fascinating to watch the team transform and will likely emerge one of the best up and coming teams in the next couple of years.