The Chicago Blackhawks aimed to bolster their roster with veteran experience as they approached NHL free agency. With much of their roster finalized, the Blackhawks feel optimistic about their team heading into training camp. “I’m really, really excited about where our group’s at, what we were able to do on July 1,” general manager Kyle Davidson said during the conclusion of Chicago’s development camp at Fifth Third Arena on Friday. “We added a lot of talent and experience, significantly enhancing our group. So, I’m really excited with how things turned out and how things are shaping up for training camp in September.”
The Blackhawks made a significant splash by signing eight players on the first day of free agency. Among the key acquisitions were forwards Tyler Benson and Teuvo Teravainen. Benson inked a four-year, $22 million contract (averaging $5.5 million annually), while Teravainen agreed to a three-year, $16.2 million deal (averaging $5.4 million annually). Additional signings included forwards Pat Maroon (one-year, $1.3 million), Craig Smith (one-year, $1 million), and Joey Anderson (two-year, $1.6 million), defensemen Alec Martinez (one-year, $4 million) and TJ Brodie (two-year, $7.5 million), and goaltender Laurent Brossoit (two-year, $6.6 million).
Chicago, which posted a 23-53-6 record last season and finished eighth in the Central Division, sought to blend seasoned veterans with a youthful roster, highlighted by Connor Bedard. The center, who was the No. 1 pick in the 2023 NHL Draft and will turn 19 on July 17, led Chicago with 61 points (22 goals, 39 assists) in 68 games and recently won the Calder Trophy as the NHL’s top rookie.
Benson and Teravainen are expected to play prominent roles among the top two forward lines this season. Last year, Benson recorded 43 points (21 goals, 22 assists) for the Toronto Maple Leafs, and Teravainen, a 2015 Stanley Cup champion with Chicago, tallied 53 points (25 goals, 28 assists) for the Carolina Hurricanes.
“Whether it’s with Connor, on a second line or wherever Luke (Richardson, Blackhawks coach) wants to play them, I believe there are options to have those guys play with good players in the top six,” Davidson said. “Teuvo’s played with elite players in Carolina, and Tyler’s shown he can complement more skilled players very well. So, there’s a lot of versatility in how the coaches can use them, but their ability to play top-six minutes in offensive roles was the main attraction.”
Bertuzzi, addressing the media on Friday, admitted that Chicago initially wasn’t on his radar at the beginning of free agency. That changed after a call from Blackhawks forward Nick Foligno, a fellow Sudbury, Ontario native and former teammate with the Boston Bruins. “He said, ‘They’re a little bit interested.’ I was excited, and things progressed from there,” Bertuzzi shared. He expressed optimism about Chicago’s other signings, adding, “Seeing more signings after me was intriguing and great. A lot of veterans, guys who’ve played many games and won Stanley Cups—those are great moves heading in the right direction. I look forward to meeting everyone, and I’m sure they’re excited too.”
Davidson expects all Blackhawks players under contract to be healthy by the start of training camp. He also anticipates knowing soon whether defenseman Artyom Levshunov, Chicago’s No. 2 pick in the 2024 NHL Draft, will return to Michigan State or turn pro.
The Blackhawks reinforced their depth through free agency, addressing their over-reliance on young players, exacerbated by significant injuries last season (351 man-games lost). The infusion of veterans aims to improve team performance this season. “We want to be better,” Davidson stated. “We want to assert ourselves in games more than in the past, instead of being on the defensive. We aim to control the puck and the game more, leading to more wins. Our goal is to impose ourselves on the game significantly more than in the last two years.”
