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The Blackhawks did not make much noise because the free agency opened on Sunday morning, adding a trio of veterans to the lineup. But additions to goalkeeper Cam Ward, left wing Chris Kunitz and defenseman Brandon Manning may only be a start, while the market should open to most of the best players autonomous.
The Hawks signed a one-year $ 3-million deal with Ward, an insurance of Corey Crawford, who missed the last 47 games of the 2017-18 season due of a head injury. General Manager Stan Bowman and coach Joel Quenneville said in the draft last week that they were expecting Crawford to be ready for the training camp in September, but Ward give them an experienced emergency plan just in case.
Kunitz will be 39 years old as the season kicks off and will enter the role of senior statesman Patrick Sharp filled last season – a former 30-goal scorer who can play a role in the top six, but that be used as depth score in the last six. Kunitz is a four-time Stanley Cup champion (one with the Ducks, three with the Penguins) who has scored at least 30 goals for three consecutive seasons in 2011-14. He was one of Sidney Crosby's favorite road-mates and even played with him for Team Canada at the Sochi Olympics. Kunitz had a modest 13-goal, 16-badault campaign with the Tampa Bay Lightning, but played in all 82 games. He did not score goals and he played in 17 playoff games. Kunitz signed a one year contract.
Manning, 28, is a left-handed defenseman who has ambaded seven goals and 12 badists in 65 games with the Flyers last season. It is signed for two seasons at a ceiling of 2.25 million dollars. The Hawks now have 10 defensemen with contract NHL experience for next season, and that does not include 2017 first-round pick Henri Jokiharju, who is expected to compete for a spot at the training camp.
Chris Kunitz is four Stanley Cup champion. (Getty Images)
With the best free players like James van Riemsdyk (five years, $ 7 million a year), Paul Stastny (three years, $ 6.5 million a year), Tyler Bozak (three years, $ 5 million) $ per year) and David Perron (four years, $ 4 million a year) getting mbadive contracts, it's no surprise that the Hawks are not major players. Although they have ceiling space for the first time in years, they must also think long term. Nick Schmaltz, Dylan Sikura, Gustav Forsling and Victor Ejdsell are among the players who will be extended here next summer, and Alex DeBrincat and Vinnie Hinostroza will have to grow year after year. .
The Hawks remain interested in trading aid on the blue line, with Carolina's Justin Faulk as the main target. It is also believed that they are part of teams trying to sign unrestricted free will Calvin de Haan, the best defender left on the market. But de Haan has a lot of contenders.
Meanwhile, Artem Anisimov submitted a list of 10 teams to which he would be willing to be exchanged, since his no-move clause became a non-exchange clause amended on Sunday. The Hawks do not buy it actively, but are willing to move it if this money can be better spent elsewhere. However, since the contracts were distributed Sunday around the league, Anisimov 4.55 million cap of success for the next three seasons does not seem so bad suddenly. He scored at least 20 goals in each of his three seasons with the Hawks.
The Hawks also signed a first round pick, Adam Boqvist, a 17-year-old defenseman, for a three-year contract.
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