Today is a big day on the calendar for a number of NHL prospects. Many drafted players from the class of 2021 need to be signed by today — June 1 — or their rights will lapse and they’ll become free agents. And the Blackhawks might take advantage of players not getting a deal done with the team that drafted them a couple years ago.
Last summer, the Blackhawks dipped into the unsigned, previously drafted market and signed Cole Guttman. Guttman made his way to the NHL roster and showed well as a rookie after four good years at Denver.
Here are a few players the Blackhawks might consider if they look into that market again to add to their system this summer.
Ben Roger, RHD
Roger could be a fascinating player for the Blackhawks to consider as a previously drafted free agent in the coming weeks. His rights will expire as a second-round pick (No. 49 overall) by the Ottawa Senators in 2021. He has size the Blackhawks’ new front office has shown a liking for on their blue line (6-4, 200) and, most importantly, plays the right side; most of the Blackhawks’ young defensemen are lefties.
What makes him an intriguing name to watch is his resume includes games with two Blackhawks prospects. He played with Paul Ludwinski in Kingston this past season and spent the 2018-19 and 2019-20 seasons with Alec Regula in London. So Chicago would have seen plenty of Roger on film and in games along the way. He turns 21 on Nov. 3 of this year.
Cole Huckins, C
Huckins, who turns 21 on May 14, was originally drafted in the third round (No. 77) by the Calgary Flames in the 2021 NHL Draft. He, too, did not receive a contract and is hitting the open market after producing 28 goals and 30 assists in 64 games for Sherbrooke of the QMJHL this past season.
With prospect Samuel Savoie in the QMJHL this season, Chicago likely got a look at Huckins. And he has size (6-4, 195) that the Blackhawks lack up front. He’s a left-handed center with size who has predominantly been a secondary scorer in the Q in his career. His two seasons since being drafted haven’t been great, but the package of size and ability could make him an interesting option for Chicago’s front office.
Conner Roulette, LW
Let’s spin the wheel on this one, shall we? (Yeah, too easy. I know.) Roulette was a fourth-round pick by Dallas in 2021 and Chicago likely saw him when scouting Kevin Korchinski before last year’s draft; he was Korchinski’s teammate in Seattle during the 2021-22 season. Seattle traded Roulette to Saskatoon before this past season, however.
He scored 24 goals with 39 assists in 60 games this past season and has some size (6-0, 180) on the wing that could bring interest from the Blackhawks’ brass. He also has a lot of skill, which is something the Blackhawks could use up front in the coming couple years. This quote got my attention:
“High-end skill, high-end talent and personality,” said Blades head coach Brennan Sonne in an October interview.
Oh, and Roulette was a teammate of Connor Bedard, Nolan Allan and Ethan Del Mastro on Canada’s U18 World Junior team in 2021 as well.