Is Taylor Raddysh's time up with the Chicago Blackhawks?

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Janessa Ladouceur
April 8, 2024 (11:51 PM)

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When June 28th concludes, the Chicago Blackhawks will have finalized their trade with the Tampa Bay Lightning. The transaction for Brandon Hagel was celebrated as a significant triumph for Chicago, as they acquired 2 NHL forwards and 2 first-round picks in return for the talented winger.

Now, let's fast forward to the present and see what's been going on. Boris Katchouk has recently been claimed off waivers after playing 16 games with Ottawa, where he managed to score 4 points. On the other hand, Taylor Raddysh has been left out of the last two games against the Stars and Wild. In his previous four games, Raddysh had an average ice time of 14 minutes and 53 seconds, but unfortunately, he couldn't contribute any points or shots on goal. Interestingly, during his time on the ice, Raddysh took three shots, but none of them hit the net. These kind of performances definitely have consequences, especially when there are young players like Landon Slaggert who are eager to showcase their skills in the final stretch of the season

Despite being just 26 years old, Raddysh is still under contract with Tampa Bay for another 3 years. As a restricted free agent (RFA) with the possibility of arbitration, he currently holds one of the lower contracts for his age among full-time NHL players. However, considering his recent demotion, it appears that Chicago may not be interested in keeping the former 2nd round draft pick (58th overall in 2016).

The evidence of Raddysh's performance lies in his production. During the previous season, he proved his scoring abilities by tallying 20 goals and amassing 37 points in 78 games. However, despite being given ample opportunities this season, the talented forward has only managed to find the back of the net 5 times in 70 games. Despite the Chicago Blackhawks having one of the weakest rosters in the NHL, it seems that there should have been a chance for Raddysh to skate alongside the team's top 2 scorers, Connor Bedard and Philipp Kurashev, especially in light of Taylor Hall's injury. In essence, Raddysh was unable to impress the coaching staff enough to secure a valuable spot in the lineup.

Taylor Raddysh may be signed for another year at a lower number, but the Blackhawks could decide to allocate his ice time to their up-and-coming young forwards who are poised for a larger role. With Landen Slaggert already on the roster, Nick Lardis and Frank Nazar waiting in the wings, it is possible that Raddysh has already seen his last game as a member of the Chicago Blackhawks.