The 2024-25 season is officially over for the Chicago Blackhawks. It ended with a crazy overtime win over the Ottawa Senators to bring their overall record to 25-46-11. They finish in 31st place out of 32.
Despite the rough season overall, they ended on a good note. Part of that is the young guys taking over with their speed and skill. Going forward, youth is going to be the identity of this organization.
Now that 82 games are in the books, it’s time to start looking ahead to the off-season plans. A high priority on the to-do list should be extending the difference-making players who will be RFAs after 2025-26.
These 2026 RFAs will be eligible for extensions once July 1st comes. Some of them are worth letting ride out next season, but some need contracts as soon as possible. These are the three that should be getting their deals done right away:
1. Connor Bedard
Yes, that time has come. Connor Bedard only has one year left on his entry-level deal. Of all the moves that the Blackhawks need to make this off-season, this could be the most consequential.
Bedard hasn't had a true breakout season yet, but he has shown flashes of being a superstar. He had one of the greatest teenage runs in the history of the NHL, which suggests that he is going to be great in short order.
Is Bedard already worth an eight-year deal worth north of $10 million against the salary cap? Well, not yet. However, Kyle Davidson would be wise to overpay him early to lock him in before he blossoms into a legit star and is worth even more.
The last thing the Blackhawks need is for Bedard to go for 100+ points in 2025-26 and then become an RFA without a contract. He may get offer sheets and a salary north of $12 million if that is the case.
With the salary cap going up, it is worth it to give Bedard a little extra now so it appears to be a team-friendly deal in two years.
2. Frank Nazar
Frank Nazar is not the generational prospect that Connor Bedard is, but he has an incredibly high ceiling. Kyle Davidson doesn't have to go for a full eight years or a double-digit salary cap hit, but getting Nazar locked in early is a must.
Like Bedard, you don't want to see Nazar reach a certain level of production before you sign him if you're the Blackhawks.
In the final few weeks of the season, Nazar started to turn a corner. He showed his value at even strength, on the power play, and as a penalty killer. An offensive guy who can excel at all three of those modes is priceless in the NHL.
When Nazar is eligible on July 1st for an extension, the Blackhawks may want to start the negotiations with his camp because he could be a valuable player for a long time.
3. Spencer Knight
Although Spencer Knight has been around the NHL for a little while now, he is still only 23 years old. He has had his second contract in the NHL already, but it didn't eat into all of his RFA years.
Knight is eligible for an extension on July 1st and beyond, as he has one year left on his deal that carries a cap hit of $4.5 million.
The Blackhawks acquired Knight in the trade that sent Seth Jones to the Florida Panthers. Since then, he has made it clear that he has what it takes to be the goaltender of the future in Chicago.
The Blackhawks want to lock him in before he potentially becomes a Vezina-caliber goaltender. If he does that as the team in front of him begins to play better, he will become a lot more expensive than he is right now.
Other RFAs
Philipp Kurashev, Wyatt Kaiser, Louis Crevier, and Arvid Soderblom are all RFAs now that the 2024-25 season is done. They will need extensions one way or another before the play next season.
As for other RFAs in 2026, Davidson may wait longer to see what they have in those players. Joe Veleno, Lukas Reichel, and Colton Dach are the other guys who could receive an extension on July 1st, but they likely won't get it as quickly.
Bedard, Nazar, and Knight are musts when it comes to extensions. These other RFAs (for both 2025 and 2026) are good players, but they aren't the difference makers that the aforementioned three are.
There are a lot of talented young guys in the organization, so the worry of paying them is a good problem to have.
