It’s safe to say this year is a big one for the Blackhawks. A vastly different roster from last year’s group will be getting its first look, and the results will likely be either tremendously promising or anxiety-inducing. While no one expects the 2023-24 Blackhawks to bring home a Stanley Cup, there’s no question that we would all love to see progress as the team looks to be a contender in the future.
When looking at the roster in Chicago, the length of contracts can be a blessing and a curse. With only three players under contract beyond 2024-25, the team has granted itself a lot of flexibility as they continue to come out of a scorched-earth rebuild. On the other hand, GM Kyle Davidson has clearly has some tough decisions to make this year. How many of these players with expiring contracts will be brought back in the future? A few Blackhawks in particular could be in line for extensions at some point this year.
Filip Roos/Isaak Phillips
These two young defensemen get lumped together on this list because they appear on it for similar reasons. Both are left-shooting blue-liners, which doesn’t exactly solve the Blackhawks’ woes at RHD, but both will look to become the future of the left side for Chicago. They fit the timeline of the rebuild perfectly (Roos is 24 and Phillips is 21) and will be coming off their entry-level deals next summer as restricted free agents. Roos was solid in 17 games last season for the big club, boasting a plus-minus of only -5 on a team that was among the worst in the league in differential. Phillips played in 16 games for the Blackhawks but especially tore it up in Rockford, where he logged 23 points from the blue line in 51 games. The two may not get much ice time this year, with Kevin Korchinski and Alex Vlasic potentially making the jump to the NHL, but if Roos and Phillips were to eventually join them, the team would have a tremendous group of LHDs, all aged 24 and under.
Cole Guttman
The Blackhawks have 14 serviceable forwards currently on the roster, leaving them with some tough decisions to make regarding the lineup card. With his entry-level contract, Guttman may find himself sliding to Rockford, where he spent much of last season, to continue to develop and open up a roster spot. Sure, there’s a place for him on the roster, but the Blackhawks will likely want to get a good look at him, which can’t exactly happen when he’s riding the bench. Nevertheless, with the contracts of nine forwards expiring after this year, look for Chicago to extend Guttman as he hopes to be an integral part of the team’s attacking lines over the next several years.
Taylor Raddysh
Back in early July, I predicted that Raddysh would find himself on the first line for much of the upcoming season, and he could still prove himself worthy of that spot, though the team may find Nick Foligno or Corey Perry better equipped to protect Connor Bedard on the top line. Raddysh excelled last year, but only when paired with top-tier talent. If he’s paired with Bedard and potentially Lukas Reichel, he could play his way into a pretty lucrative deal during this season. At just 25 years old, Raddysh still boasts two full years of NHL experience, and could easily be brought back as part of the team’s long-term plan.
While it wouldn’t be feasible for Davidson and his staff to extend every player whose contract is expiring, it’s clear that a handful of players will be an integral part of this team’s future. Look for that group to be paid accordingly at some point this season as Chicago gears up to become a future dynasty.
