Blackhawks reportedly eyeing down these multiple free agent options

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Joshua Deeds
May 2, 2024 (8:54 PM)

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The Chicago Blackhawks are looking to improve their roster, while ideally competing in the 2024-2025 regular season.

With numerous UFAS and RFAs coming available during free agency, the team will look to add during free agency according to Kyle Davidson.

Some of them may become potential trade chips for the Blackhawks, but even with a massive amount of cap space available, there are some low-buy-in NHLers who could be a great addition to the roster:

Arthur Kaliyev

Kaliyev was originally a 2nd round pick in the 2019 NHL Draft and had 2 good seasons in the Kings system before hitting the doghouse in 2023-2024.

This season he only scored 7 goals in 51 games, and despite being a big player he refuses to play physically. He's currently an RFA and the Kings could look to flip his rights at the draft.

Wahlstrom, like Kaliyev, has found himself in a limited usage role, playing only 77 games across two seasons. He did suffer an ACL tear during the 2022-2023 regular season, and with a one-year deal being signed, being a continued healthy scratch doesn't seem great for the 2018 NHL draft product. He may end up being a cap casualty, due to lack of production, scoring only 34 goals in 193 games. The Blackhawks could buy low and let him play without the pressure in a market like New York.

Alex Turcotte

Turcotte is no stranger to Blackhawks fans, who was selected two picks after Kirby Dach in 2019. He only played one season in the NCAA and turned pro, and hasn't been able to hold a full-time NHL role since, due to ongoing injuries.

There have also been some concerns regarding Turcotte from The Athletic's Corey Pronman:

The pick looked problematic almost from Day 1 when Turcotte left junior hockey for college. He hasn't played great versus pros either, looking like a bottom-of-the-lineup type of forward at best. Turcotte's been often injured, so that surely played a variable in his development, but there were issues in his projection, too. He wasn't the biggest center, and while talented, he didn't have any true high-end offensive traits. His speed and compete versus juniors helped him stand out, but against bigger men, there were other guys his size who could skate well and worked hard, so he became more ordinary.

Turcotte hasn't developed as quickly as the Kings have hoped for, which may cause him to be available for a change of scenery, which could benefit him. The Chicago product only scored 10 goals in 35 games in the AHL this season.

Filip Zadina

Zadina was the 6th overall pick in the 2019 NHL Draft and hasn't worked out as hoped. Zadina played 190 NHL games with the Detroit Red Wings, across 5 seasons before the team let him walk.

He signed a 1-year deal in San Jose and only played 72 games, with a TOI of 13 minutes. He was able to score 13 goals and could be a good addition on the right side for the Blackhawks. All Davidson needs to look into is acquiring his RFA rights.

Source: Bleacher Nation
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