NEWSLETTER
Smoke em if you got em, Blackhawks fans! Y’all wanted more bodies, you’re getting plenty! The Blackhawks are reportedly also bringing in forwards Pat Maroon and Craig Smith on one-year deals and goaltender Laurent Brossoit on a two-year deal.
These are popping off entirely too fast right now, so I’ll add to this as we go.
Blackhawks add Pat Maroon
Maroon, 36, appeared in only 51 games this past season. He initially signed with Minnesota, with whom he scored four goals with 16 assists in 49 games, before he was traded to Boston. He only skated in two games for the Bruins. He’s another veteran fourth-line guy with plenty of playoff experience.
Blackhawks sign Craig Smith
Smith, who will turn 35 in early September, scored 11 goals in 75 games for the Dallas Stars last year. Blackhawks fans likely remember him as an annual 20-goal scoring forward in Nashville years back.
He’s another guy who can add a veteran element to the Blackhawks’ bottom six, which is getting a complete overhaul on Monday.
Blackhawks bring in Laurent Brossoit
The Blackhawks wanted to have better depth in the goaltending position this coming year as well, and accomplished that with a two-year commitment to Brossoit. The 31-year-old appeared in 23 games with Winnipeg this past season, and head coach Luke Richardson noted that he played a great game at the expense of the Blackhawks.
The two-year deal at a a cap hit over $3M means Arvid Söderblom will likely see a lot of Rockford in the final year of his contract. And the Blackhawks now have two veteran goalies under contract for the next two seasons in the NHL with Petr Mrazek‘s extension kicking in.
