3 Offseason Targets For Chicago Blackhawks

The Chicago Blackhawks don't need to desperately speed their rebuild along, but they do have to add a big piece up front and start to get better. They can't finish bottom three in the league next season. Offense was a huge problem and the defense and goaltending look young and pretty much set for next season. A big time forward is what Chicago has to have their sights set on.

Mitch Marner

Mitch Marner is the big prize in free agency if he reaches there. The Blackhawks have the money, have space, and a huge need for him. Connor Bedard really needs a star to play beside and has to start shooting more to score more goals. This can happen with an elite playmaker in Marner feeding him the puck and with that talent on the top line, more offensive zone time as well. He won't be cheap, but he would be worth it as it is a time when the Blackhawks need a star forward who has experience.

Brock Boeser

Brock Boeser isn't the top target, but he's 2-3 among the forwards who should be available. He can score, and as I mentioned, the Blackhawks really need that. He is a very different player than Marner, but will also come a lot cheaper. He isn't going to be back with the Vancouver Canucks, so the Blackhawks can already start planning accordingly. He is a six time 20 goal scorer in just eight seasons and has a 40 goal season under his belt as well. Boeser is in his prime and Chicago could very much use a player like this to add to the offense.

Nikolaj Ehlers

Nikolaj Ehlers falls into that bracket of 2-3 that I mentioned with Boeser. Ehlers wants top line minutes that he can get with the Blackhawks and what he isn't going to get with the Winnipeg Jets. There's also likely a part of him that wants to play in a better city than Winnipeg. He is very fast and I can picture him speeding up the ice with the likes of Frank Nazar. The Blackhawks would be able to offer Ehlers more than a lot of other teams and he is also having a career year while in his prime. If Chicago can land one of these three, they should see it as a win this offseason.