There appears to be a lot of big name free agents in 2026, but I guarantee a lot of them will sign contracts with their current teams before they get close to free agency, reducing the field like what happens every year.
Alex Tuch (Timothy T. Ludwig-Imagn Images)
Some of the top targets for the Chicago Blackhawks to add this season via free agency include Mitch Marner, Nikolaj Ehlers, and Brock Boeser, but all of them may not even still be available for the Blackhawks to go after on July 1. If this offseason falls flat in the way of adding top-end talent at forward to start the climb back into contention for the playoffs, Chicago might have more luck the following year.
No player wants to lose, but if there's hope and enough money, players can be convinced. It will be tougher for the Blackhawks to attract the best free agents this offseason after finishing 31st, but if they show signs of improving and players like Connor Bedard, Frank Nazar, and company take positive steps, then it's a different story.
Looking ahead at the UFA class of 2026, there are names like Connor McDavid, Jack Eichel, Kyle Connor, Adrian Kempe, and Kirill Kaprizov who are going to be given almost anything they want to stay with their teams. But it may be a different story for players like Artemi Panarin, Martin Necas, Alex Tuch, and Nick Schmaltz. Those groups of players are mostly in different categories, and I also think Necas could be in the first group, but the Blackhawks will likely have to find someone this year or next year to add unless the team delves into trades. Panarin and Schmaltz have also already been Blackhawks, so who knows how that could impact future decisions.
Trades are a great way of getting players that might not ever become available to sign and can save on contract for a few key seasons, but also costs assets. I think if free agency fails for the Blackhawks, Kyle Davidson should already have potential trading partners at the ready to bring in a top-6 forward. The Blackhawks have more than enough assets (draft picks and prospects) to get a lot of good deals done.
