NEWSLETTER
Let’s get into some of the buzz surrounding the Chicago Blackhawks as we get into the 2024 NHL Draft and sprint immediately into free agency on Monday.
As for free agency, Davidson said they are willing to give out contracts with term. They don’t have specific positional needs. “Nothing is set in stone in terms of philosophy,” Davidson said. “We’re very open to whatever comes our way.”
When I spoke to Davidson two days before the draft, the team had decided on who it was going to select at No. 2. (Other teams around the league have told me Chicago’s decision is likely between winger Ivan Demidov and defenseman Artyom Levshunov). Davidson said it wasn’t necessarily a clear decision, because they had great options. Unlike last year, when Connor Bedard was the unquestioned choice, it was educational for the front office to run the process. The Blackhawks ultimately will pick the player who fits best into the team construction long term and allows for sustainable success in Chicago.
Let’s run that back for a moment on the first paragraph: “Davidson said [the Blackhawks] are willing to give out contracts with term.” Well then… so much for the way some paraphrased Davidson’s comments on Thursday when he spoke with the media in Vegas that we should temper our outlook for free agency.
The reality is that the Blackhawks are going shopping and have the money to do some things. But what they do has to work with their long-term plan, because they aren’t looking for another Jones-Fleury summer of crazy spending. Kyle Davidson is building this thing intentionally and conservatively and he hasn’t wavered from that — to his credit and the frustration of some fans and media members.
“There were other teams also that wanted to make a trade with Vancouver,” Milstein said. “So obviously we considered all options. But I met and had extensive conversations with Kyle Davidson and also other people in the organization, and we knew exactly what the role that he was going to step into and the opportunity. It was just as clear as a day in Chicago that he had the best options to help the team start winning.”
It feels almost likely at this point that Luchanko is going in the top 20. The league loves his two-way game, his skating and his compete. He fits the profile of the type of forward Chicago has targeted and has that profile in spades. I think Jiricek or either of the Norwegian players fit here too if they make it to 18.
