Are the Blackhawks done shopping for free agents?

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Ryan Hall
July 14, 2023 (3:09 PM)

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As Kyle Davidson continues to evaluate his team and make changes to his roster during his rebuild of the Blackhawks, free agency is always an option to make a quick fix or add some depth to your lineup to help bolster what's missing.

The Blackhawks have holes across the lineup that will take time to address. However, there are some players still on the market who could help the Blackhawks in the short term and could also be used to flip at the trade deadline to acquire more assets for a team making a run at the Stanley Cup.

One player who could help the Blackhawks is former Minnesota Wild defenseman Matt Dumba. Dumba's career has taken a turn for the worse and he has not produced more than 30 points since 2017. As the Blackhawks are looking to reach the salary cap floor, Dumba's physical presence and right-hand shot could be valuable to improve his numbers and potentially be flipped at the deadline. I could see Dumba signing a one-year or two-year deal.

Ethan Bear could also be on the Blackhawks' radar. The former Edmonton Oiler has shown decent offensive upside that could provide support to the Blackhawks' third and fourth lines. He would be a great depth player for the Hawks, and considering he made $2.2 million last year, I could see Davidson trying to sign him for a similar amount. He is certainly a player worth noting.

Lastly, sticking with the defensive theme, Cal Foote could be an option for the Blackhawks, as his career has not taken off as many had hoped.

Living in the shadow of his legendary father, Adam Foote, Cal could join the Blackhawks on a low-risk deal that could pay off if he can get his career back on track.

He too would be a good depth player to add to the roster in case of injuries and spend some time with the Rockford IceHogs. Will Davidson consider these players? Is he done shopping, or will he continue to develop what he has? It remains to be seen.