REPORT CARD: Grading the Chicago Blackhawks Start to NHL Free Agency
7/3/202610 min
How do the Chicago Blackhawks' first 48 hours of NHL free agency stack up? Jay Zawaski, Greg Boysen, and Mario Tirabassi hand out grades for Kyle Davidson's early offseason moves, including the additions of Ian Cole and Cole Smith, plus several signings aimed at strengthening the Rockford IceHogs. With Davidson saying he feels comfortable entering the season with the current roster, the crew debates whether the Blackhawks have done enough, or if a higher grade will require another move before the 2026-27 season.
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First 90 secondsGreg Boysen· Host0:00
We are 48 hours removed from Black Hawks free agency, and while there are not a lot of big names, there are a lot of names. Cole Smith, three-year contract, $3 million cap hit. Ian Cole, one-year deal, $4 million cap hit. Connor Mackey, Dylan Anhorn sign minor league two-way deals. Same with Dylan Boucher and Connor Milamok. We, we got what we got. What's the grade, fellas? How are we grading Kyle Davidson's first 48 hours into free agency? If we're gonna do this, we just have to look at it the vacuum of the first day of free agency and what was accomplished- Mm-hmm ... and take out all the outside noise. Going into free agency and going into the off-season, everybody wanted, you know, a top six winger for Connor Bedard. That guy was not on the market yester- on, on Wednesday. He was not there. You can argue Mason Marchment, but I'm sorry, I want better than Mason Marchment for Connor Bedard. So I'm not gonna spend big money on a guy that should probably be in your middle six and playing in the top line. Plus, he's got that connection with the Sharks through his dad. He gets to wear his dad's number. Yeah, I know his dad played for the Black Hawks too. Still has a hawk too. [laughs] But his dad also worked for the Sharks- Yeah, I know. He does ... for, for many, many years. Yes. Yeah. So you can't beat that and the extra money they gave him. But Mason Marchment was not my l- ideal long-term running mate for Connor Bedard. So that guy wasn't there on July first, so you can't be mad that he didn't get him 'cause you can't sign a guy that doesn't exist. If you could, that'd be awesome. So w- the other thing is they needed was add size and physicality and add a veteran defenseman.