The Chicago Blackhawks have seen better days. The organization has missed the postseason for five straight years, and the team is still searching for some answers.
Chicago is a proud franchise, and missing the playoffs tends to make the fans anxious. The front office has some work to do if it wants to get this team back into a place of contending for Stanley Cups.
The Blackhawks have a decent young team, led by Connor Bedard. But Chicago is going to need more if it wants to truly compete.
NHL writer Lyle Fitzsimmons of Bleacher Report looked ahead at upcoming free agents and listed the Blackhawks as a potential option for Vegas Golden Knights star Jack Eichel.
Eichel will be entering the final year of his deal with Vegas next season, and then could enter free agency.
"Perhaps they'll now consider taking a run at Eichel in an effort to both placate their 19-year-old star and add legitimate prime-years talent into the top six. Eichel would be a prized trinket for whoever is hired as the team's new full-time coach, and he'd also fit nicely into its salary structure as the league's cap annually expands to $95.5 million, $104 million and $113.5 million through 2028."
If the Blackhawks could land Eichel, it would be a true game-changer. The Golden Knights' star would bring a "go-to" type of player to Chicago, pairing him with Bedard.
The Blackhawks are in the business of winning titles, and Eichel likely wants to win more. The pairing could be special, with Chicago possibly landing another franchise cornerstone.
