Starting with Bertuzzi and Teravainen, Blackhawks Load Up With Seven Free Agents On First Day Of Signing Window

Connor Bedard will still be the undisputed star of the show in Chicago, but the 2024 Calder Trophy winner will have a drastically improved supporting cast next season.

The Blackhawks signed seven — yes, seven — free agents on Monday as general manager Kyle Davidson tried to make good on a promise to improve his team from a 31st place finish last season. Chicago went 23-53-6 and set a franchise record for losses.

Here's who's coming to the Windy City's Original Six team:

• Physical forward Tyler Bertuzzi from the Toronto where he scored 21 goals and 43 points last season. The rugged 29-year-old nephew of Todd Bertuzzi got a four-year contract that pays $5.5 million per year.

• Winger Teuvo Teravainen, the Hawks first-round draft pick in 2012, will return after posting 23 goals and 53 points with Carolina last season. The 29-year-old Finn got a three-year deal with a $5.4 million AAV.

• Goalie Laurent Brossoit, the backup to Vezina Trophy winner Connor Hellebuyck in Winnipeg in 2023-24, inked a two-year deal that pays $3.3 million per year. Brossoit, 31, was 15-5-2 in 23 games with 2.00 GAA and .927 save percentage. He'll be a strong backup to Petr Mrazek in Chicago while Arvid Söderblom can work in his game and confidence with AHL Rockford.

• Defenseman Alec Martinez, 36, who comes from Vegas. The stay-at-home veteran signed for one year deal for $4 million and will help anchor Chicago's deep batch of promising young blueliners. Martinez is a three-time Stanley Cup champion, including in 2012 with Los Angeles when his overtime goal in Game 7 of the Western Conference Final knocked out the Blackhawks.

• Forward Patrick Maroon, also a three-time Cup winner. The 36-year-old got a one year, $1.3 million contract after posting four goals and 16 points in 49 games with Minnesota last season

• Center Craig Smith signed a one-year, $1 million contract. The 34-year-old depth forward had 11 goals and 20 points with Dallas last season and will enter his 14th season.

• Winger Joey Anderson, an RFA that the Blackhawks didn't give a qualifying offer to. Anderson won't be a new face in Chicago, but signed a two-year  deal with a $800,000 AAV after posting five goals and 12 points last season with the Hawks and leading the team with a plus-5 mark. He was a reliable winger next to center Jason Dickinson on the team's shutdown line

Depleted by injuries much of the season, the Blackhawks were the lowest-scoring team in the NHL last season with 179 goals. Chicago had a minus-111 goals differential; only last-place San Jose was wore with minus-150

Bertuzzi and Teravainen could be top-6 forwards in Chicago next season. 

Former Hart Trophy winner Taylor Hall also is in that mix as he comes back from right ACL surgery. He had been acquired last summer as a potential line for Bedard two days before Chicago selected Bedard with the No. 1 overall pick in the draft.