The Blackhawks embark on yet another substantial offseason in their quest to make it back to the postseason. The team has not made it to the postseason since the bubble shortened season in 2020, and they haven’t made it in a full regular season since 2016-2017. The team will be entering their fourth season in the Connor Bedard era and have yet to finish above 31st in the standings as a team since he has arrived in Chicago. Kyle Davidson has so far has had quite the busy offseason, let’s take an in depth look and analyze the moves he has made so far this offseason in free agency and the trade market.

June 1st, 2026 – The Blackhawks trade the rights of OHL Forward Prospect Jack Pridham to the Tampa Bay Lightning in exchange for a 2027 3rd Round Pick.

Grade – A

Analysis – The Hawks acquired a 3rd Round pick in next year’s draft in exchange for a player they weren’t going to sign and lose the rights to in a system that already has more than enough of what Pridham can provide as a player.

June 23, 2026 – Kyle Davidson shocks the hockey world days before the NHL Entry Draft by acquiring Left Handed Defenseman Bowen Byram and Winger Jordan Greenway from the Buffalo Sabers in exchange for the 4th overall pick in the 2026 draft, a second round pick (#45) and Defenseman Louis Crevier.

Grade – D

Analysis – The Blackhawks gave up a lot of draft capital in a rebuilding year to add a 25 year old defensemen who’s had an abundance of injuries in his short but lucrative NHL career. Although Bryam set a new career high with 42 points on the second pair for Buffalo, he will need to produce more to live up to the package and contract he signed in Chicago to justify the prices of both. The Blackhawks doubled down on this decision by extending Byram through the 2032-33 season at a 12.5 million dollar salary cap hit that starts after next season, Yikes.

July 1st, 2026 – The Blackhawks sign forward Cole Smith to a 3 year contract and veteran defensemen Ian Cole to a 1 year contract.

Cole Smith – Grade – C+

At 3 million dollars a 4th liner of Smith’s caliber makes a lot of sense with the salary cap increasing. However 3 years for a 30 year old physically dependent type of player for a team rebuilding team like the Blackhawks who are looking to give spots for younger players to carve out roles in a rebuild is a little bit troubling. Especially with Ryan Donato already having 3 years left of term in a bottom 6 role for the team. Smith brings something the Blackhawks lack however which is size and physical play in their bottom 6. Be on the lookout for Smith to provide sandpaper and gold old fashion grit in the hawks bottom 6 as he’s had 4 straight seasons accumulating 100+ hits and plays a style that this team desperately needs.

Ian Cole – Grade – B+

Cole at 37 years of age is in the ending stages of his NHL career and provides the hawks young defensive core what they desperately needed which was veteran leadership and experience in the backend. With the departure of Connor Murphy at this years trade deadline the oldest Hawk defenseman on the roster was Alex Vlasic who is 25 years old. Cole for one year brings a defensive defenseman type style of play to a d-core that desperately needs it. He ranked 15th in blocked shots amongst all NHL defensemen and brings a physical style of play to the hawks blue line. Not a flashy signing at all but a necessary one for the Hawks.

Other notable moves

– The Blackhawks send Andre Burakovsky to the Ottawa Senators in exchange for a 2027 6th Round Pick.

Grade – A+

Analysis – LOL Ottawa.

– The Blackhawks sign Forward Roman Kantserov to a 3 year entry level contract.

Grade – A+

Analysis – Davidson’s cheap fix most likely to play on Bedard’s wing. It’s certainly worth taking a look at as he is a highly skilled winger, however he lacks size and it could be a problem in the NHL. Time will tell if Kantserov’s game can translate over from the KHL.

– The Blackhawks extend Goaltender Drew Commesso to a 2 Year – 875k contract.

Grade – A

Analysis – Give him a shot over Soderblom I am begging you Kyle!

Overall Offseason Grade – D+

The Blackhawks undoubtedly will be a better team on paper next season, there’s no denying that. Even with a Connor Bedard injury to start the season the hawks will have more points than they did last season. The problem is the Hawks didn’t do enough up front to make a substantial difference in their future trajectory. The problems that have plagued the rebuild since they drafted Connor Bedard 1st overall still exists. Davidson still has not given Bedard a top flight winger to play with through multiple drafts and free agency periods in his tenure. They went into this offseason seeing that hole and have yet to make a move to acquire a winger through the draft, free agency, or a trade. With that and the vast overpayment for Bowen Byram’s services via trade, the floor of the team has been raised but I don’t think the ceiling has in the near future. The hawks two depth signings of Cole and Smith and bringing over star KHL forward Roman Kantserov do not move the needle enough to justify a grade higher than a D+. I expect the Blackhawks to have more points in the standings this year, but still finishing anywhere from 31st to 27th overall in the league and once again picking in the top 5-8. Sorry Kyle, there’s still time to go out and trade for the rights of Jason Robertson or Kirill Marchenko and raise the ceiling of this rebuild. The Draft edition will be coming shortly.