NEWSLETTER
This is not a foreign concept for the Chicago Blackhawks this summer. In fact, it’s been a pretty frequent topic of discussion all offseason: The team has a need for a true No. 1 defenseman, and they’re interested in potentially filling that void with Seth Jones or Dougie Hamilton.
So while the latest report from TSN’s Darren Dreger’s isn’t quite new, he definitely adds some fuel to the fire as a corroborating source:
I do know that GM Stan Bowman is trying to add an elite-level defenceman, such as Dougie Hamilton, who is a pending unrestricted free agent. Hamilton’s agent has permission to speak to other clubs right now to try and work something out with the Carolina Hurricanes. And, of course, we have the potential of Seth Jones as well, who is in the final year of his deal with the Columbus Blue Jackets.
HOWEVA, the more this offseason has gone on, the less likely I find it that the Blackhawks will land either of those defensemen, or any major names in free agency or trades before the 2021-22 season. Chicago doesn’t feel like a desirable destination right now. I can’t argue that there’s no smoke, but that’s still my two cents.
On top of that, who is to say that current President of Hockey Operations and General Manager Stan Bowman will even be the one to make these kinds of moves and decisions this offseason? His status with the team is likely on the line with the lawsuits and allegations currently levied against the team.
The Blackhawks are in a pickle where they need to get the right players in the building to compliment the faces of the team (Patrick Kane, Jonathan Toews, Alex DeBrincat) and also work well with building up the next group of talent (Brandon Hagel, Kirby Dach, Adam Boqvist), all while dealing with major off-ice issues. It’s likely neither of Jones nor Hamilton end up in Chicago, given what it would take in a trade or in salary cap space to make either of those moves possible.
