Blackhawks Set to Accelerate Rebuild: 'Time to Start Making Hockey Trades'
“It’s safe to say we’re likely moving away from that,” Davidson said about accumulating draft capital. With a wealth of assets, including multiple first-round picks over the next two drafts and significant cap space, Davidson has the means to pursue NHL-ready talent this summer.
His trade deadline moves indicated the beginning of this shift, acquiring Spencer Knight, Joe Veleno, Aku Räty, and Victor Söderström while moving out Seth Jones, Petr Mrázek, and Craig Smith.
Yes, Jones is a big name to be moving out, however, that would not have occurred had the veteran defenseman not specifically asked to be shipped out.
“We do have all these great assets that are future assets… but we’ve got some really nice pieces that we feel are valuable around the league,” Davidson said, indicating he is prepared to use them to acquire impact players.
One of the biggest priorities will be surrounding Connor Bedard with players who can help him succeed. The past two seasons have seen veteran stopgaps come and go, but Davidson now aims to bring in players in their mid-to-late twenties who can contribute long-term.
“We’ve got over $30 million in cap space next year and not too many guys to re-sign,” he said, making it clear that the Blackhawks have room to be aggressive in free agency or the trade market. The addition of Veleno gives them a young center, and former top prospect, to evaluate, while Knight provides a potential long-term solution in goal.
Retaining Ryan Donato past the trade deadline also shows that Davidson values continuity and leadership, with contract discussions already underway.
Davidson’s next major move will be hiring a permanent head coach, a decision he acknowledges is crucial. “It’s a huge decision,” he said. “We’re thinking about how that profile looks and what the team will look like and what they’ll need in a coach.”
The Blackhawks are still in a rebuilding phase, but Davidson is indicating that it’s time to start pushing forward.
