*Photo from NHL.com*
The Chicago Blackhawks offseason can be summed up like this. It's a rebuild that really isn't a rebuild. I say it's a rebuild because the front office said last year they are rebuilding, but with these moves, you wouldn't be able to tell. Last season, the Blackhawks finished in 6th place in the Discover Central division, failing to make the playoffs with a 24-25-7 record.
Let's as always get into the departures from the windy city. Longtime face Duncan Keith is gone, but it was time, as he looked like a shell of who he was. He got traded to Edmonton for a pretty good return. Defensemen Adam Boqvist and Nikita Zadorov were also moved in separate trades, with Boqvist going to Columbus, and Zadorov to Calgary. Forwards Pius Suter and David Kampf signed elsewhere in free agency, with Suter going to Detroit, and Kampf going to Toronto.
Now, we get into the additions. Oh boy, are there a lot. Kevin Lankinen had a fantastic rookie season in goal, but the Blackhawks went big game hunting. They traded for Vezina winner Marc-Andre Fleury from the Golden Knights in a pure salary dump, with only one forward prospect going the other way. There was some tension as to whether Fleury would play for the Blackhawks or choose to retire, but he has decided to play this season, so it's a big get for Chicago.
To replace the 3 defensemen they lost, they got 3 defensemen back. Caleb Jones was first, being acquired from Edmonton as part of the Keith trade. Left shot D Jake McCabe is also coming in, signing a 4 year deal with Chicago at the start of free agency. Then, the big one. The Blackhawks got Seth Jones, Caleb's brother, in a trade with the Blue Jackets that saw Boqvist go the other way. Jones is a premium upgrade, and the Blackhawks signed him to a massive extension right away. 8 years, $9.5 million AAV. That's rich.
Meanwhile, to replace Suter and Kampf on the forward attack, they took a drink of the Stanley cup winning juice from the Tampa Bay Lightning, acquiring a draft pick and 4th line center Tyler Johnson for the contract of now retired Brent Seabrook. They also signed Jujhar Khaira away from Edmonton to a two year deal.
The Blackhawks have made their intentions clear as the offseason has begun. Playoffs. Playoffs or bust. Whether this is in the best interests of the short and long term of the team, who knows. But they are a team to watch this season.
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