Low-Risk, High Reward Options to Help the Rebuild

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James
June 2, 2022 (0:47)

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Alright Blackhawks Nation, we've heard your grumblings about signing Nazem Kadri or Johnny Gaudreau, but the Blackhawks will be signing players. That's just the nature of the NHL.

Every year, depth players are signed for short-term, low cap-hit contracts that end up making a big difference to a team's bottom-six. Whether it be through providing depth scoring, sturdy defensive play, or adding value on special teams' units, there is value in some of the low-end free agents and the Hawks should explore these low-cost, high upside options.

Ilya Mikheyev
Mikheyev, 27, enjoyed a career-best performance this season with 21 goals, 32 points and 147 shots in 53 games. Those numbers would've been higher had he not lost 29 games to a broken thumb. He's a solid two-way player whose ability to play on either wing should draw plenty of interest if he hits the open market.

Despite playing third-line minutes this season, Mikheyev saw time on the Leafs' power-play and penalty-killing units. He can play with more talented offensive forwards but also slide in on a shutdown line and excel there as well. He'd be a solid, affordable addition to a playoff contender or a rebuilding club, probably in the $2 million per season range.

Mason Marchment
After showing potential in his first full NHL campaign last season, Marchment blossomed into a reliable checking forward with a decent scoring touch this year for the Florida Panthers. With 47 points in 54 games, the 27-year-old left winger finished eighth among the high-scoring Panthers and was behind only Mitch Marner and Gaudreau in terms of five-on-five, total points per 60 minutes.

At 6'4" and 209 pounds, the 26-year-old Marchment is a physical, energetic two-way forward. Despite missing 28 games to injury and illness, he finished the regular season fifth among Florida skaters with 114 hits. He can skate on either wing and is one of those players whose aggressive style can provide his club with an emotional lift via a timely goal, big hit or break-up of an opponent's scoring opportunity. Florida sure missed him in the second round against Tampa. Marchment made $800,000 this year and is probably due a $2.5-3 mil per year deal.

Zach Aston-Reese
Aston-Reese has shifted his game into being more of a defensive winger who fits nicely in a bottom-six role. He played in 69 games this season and was part of the Rickard Rakell trade, going from Pittsburgh to Anaheim. In those 69 games, the 27-year-old had five goals and 10 assists on the season.

He was a consistent force on the penalty kill and was fourth on the Penguins when it came to penalty kill time per game before he was traded. He has good enough hands to be able to finish in a bottom-six role and shows very well when it comes to defensive numbers at five-on-five and his ability to kill penalties. He should be had for $1 million per year.