3 Chicago Blackhawks Who Won't Be Back Next Season: Post Trade Deadline Fallout

The Chicago Blackhawks brought in a number of veterans this past offseason to force the young players to really earn their spots in the NHL. This didn't work out great, but a number of them have proved themselves by this time of the season. The team already moved off of some players at the trade deadline, but there will be even more changes in the offseason, benefiting the young players more.

Alec Martinez

Alec Martinez has come in and done a solid job compared to expectations, but too many of the young defensemen have proven they can handle NHL minutes and deserve a spot in the NHL next season. Of the remaining veteran defensemen, I think only Connor Murphy is on the roster to begin next season and we will even see where his future lies if the Blackhawks aren't in the playoff race again. Martinez is a UFA after the season and is 37 years old. As a rebuilding team, the inexperienced players have to have spots available to them to gain experience.

T.J. Brodie

T. J Brodie has not had a good season and hasn't played since March 1. With top prospect Artyom Levshunov being recalled, I don't see Brodie playing very many more games for the Blackhawks this season or next. If there was one player I think the Blackhawks would buy out, it would be Brodie who has one more year at $3.75 million. Chicago isn't anywhere close to being strapped for cap, so they can have that buyout hit on the books for one extra year at a reduced price. As mentioned above, there needs to be roster spots for the young d-men who have earned them.

Philipp Kurashev

It has been an unfortunate season for Philipp Kurashev who had a breakout season in 2023-24. He went from being a top-6 fixture to falling down the lineup and right out of it. He has just six goals and 10 points in 43 games after 18 goals and 54 points in 74 games. He is very likely to not be qualified by the Blackhawks and turn into a UFA this summer to sign elsewhere. The same thing happened with Taylor Raddysh. The Blackhawks will have no problem going in a different direction and Kurashev needs a fresh start on a new team.