Jack Eichel, Connor McDavid, Kirill Kaprizov and Kyle Connor has signed contract extensions with their respective teams, and it could have major ripple effects across the NHL — including for the Chicago Blackhawks. With 2026 free agency shaping up to be a pivotal moment for Chicago’s rebuild, how does the changing face of free agency impact what GM Kyle Davidson can do? From Connor Bedard’s future cap hit to potential big-name targets, the CHGO Blackhawks crew — Jay Zawaski and Mario Tirabassi — break down every angle.
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16 Comments
Not just everyone has cap space, but significant FAs want to go to contenders if they're leaving their own team. Hawks would have to overpay p heavily to get a difference-maker in Chitown
But we perhaps can get filler stop-gap vets on 1-3 year contracts, 28-31 years old till our drafted players fill those roles, improve the team, and attact the quality FA.
Give me 2 years of Kane and panarin on either side of Nazar please
This team is two years away from needing that Hossa-type player. We filled the roster out with vets who didn't move the needle and fans were mad. Now we are not doing it and fans are mad. How dare you not pick up any of those players who never hit the market. I'm so happy with this team so far. Everyone needs to relax. Im old head Hawks fan. My patience is tier 1.
IMO…this team wont be in the playoffs for 8 years..too many just average prospects . Bedard, Nazar and Frondell arent enough!!…we will have to wait for any help from other prospects to get good…if EVER ! … OR wait till other teams to just get old. We will be bad long enough to continue drafting bottom 3… and pray they grow into quality players IN 8 yrs….so sad ! Kyle Davidson wont be here very long.
This temporary throws a monkey wrench into KD’s foundational plan for rebuilding a franchise.
Luckily he was able to establish somewhat of a pipeline of players to replenish the team over the next few years, but now he will have to adjust his strategy because fewer teams will be over the cap for the foreseeable future.
The RC Cola commercial is so lame
I know its early but so far the team at least looks more competitive. Keep building through the draft and add top FAs when this team is showing more promise.
The hawks need to sign to become contenders. But they need the youth to get playoff bound without it or they won’t find a Campbell or Hossa like they did in the previous rebuild. If the hawks look like they have talent developing like crazy. Then the Hossa’s of today’s league will sign in Chicago. They just need to see that adding a HHOF caliber player makes the hawks a real contender.
Bring the bread man back!!!
soon the cap will only exist for the big market teams again. The small market teams just won't be able to afford to pay up to the cap every year. Super Teams will make a come back now
This is why it would have been good to resign Bedard this summer. The contracts are going to spike , and if you don’t pay him kaprizov money, someone will
The fact that rebuilding teams can't weaponize the cap at all, is a net negative for the Blackhawks. A big net negative. Can't bring in any outside talent without trading away assets. I wonder if this throws a wrench into KD's initial plans for the rebuild.
RFA
No need to sign a big free agent. DEVELOP EVERYONE! Be patient and stop with the public pressure! There's tons of talent in the pipeline. Will they win the cup in three years? No, but eventually the top teams now will age out and our core will have been together for 4-6 years and run the league along with San Jose and Montreal. Bedard is going to play another 15+ years. PATIENCE!
whether you like it or don't like it, learn to live with it!!