The Chicago Blackhawks have already brought back two former Stanley Cup champs in Brandon Saad and Patrick Sharp this offseason. They also brought a Chicago native home as free agency officially got underway Saturday.
The Blackhawks have agreed to a one-year deal with former San Jose Sharks and Ottawa Senators center Tommy Wingels, Saturday. The news was first reported by Fox Sports Midwest’s Andy Strickland.
Wilmette, Ill., native Tommy Wingels has inked a 1-year contract with the #Blackhawks!
Welcome home, Tommy! pic.twitter.com/gFDrJiu2Ov
— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) July 1, 2017
An Wilmette native, Wingels finished the 2016-17 season with the Senators after playing his first six professional seasons in San Jose. He’s coming off of a down season during which he scored only 7 goals and tallied only 12 points, his lowest output since the 2011-12 campaign.
Wingels will serve as a solid depth option for the Hawks. He has 15-goal potential, but has scored only 14 combined goals during the last two seasons. The 29-year-old is mediocre in the faceoff dot however, posting a 41.9 win percentage throughout his career.
Wingels typically plays a bottom-six defensive role and his arrival increases the likelihood that Marcus Kruger and his $3.083 million cap hit will be traded at some point this offseason. Wingels and Laurent Dauphin should both play depth roles next season for Chicago.
