While the Blackhawks aren’t planning on becoming full-fledged buyers as soon as next season, it’s clear general manager Kyle Davidson wants to take some measured steps to ease out of their rebuild after coming up with their worst record of the post-Original Six era in 2023-24. That will include adding a second-line center to give some added depth and relieve rising sophomore Connor Bedard of some pressure, Scott Powers of The Athletic said Tuesday.
Entering this season, the Blackhawks hoped 2020 first-round pick Lukas Reichel could assume the role. The German forward took a major step forward in his development in 2022-23, impressing with 20 goals and 51 points in 55 games with AHL Rockford and a strong showing in 23 NHL games (seven goals, 15 points, 16:22 ATOI).
But without much help around him, Reichel struggled with a full-time major league role and was even demoted back to Rockford for a stretch in February and March. He finished the campaign with only five goals, 16 points and a -29 rating in 65 games while averaging just over 14 minutes, and he was shifted back to left wing early on after going 43.4% in the faceoff dot.
That led to 28-year-old Jason Dickinson getting most of the reps as Chicago’s second-line center this season. The 2013 first-round pick of the Stars performed admirably in the process, having a career year with 22 goals, 35 points, and decidedly above-average possession metrics while averaging 16:34 per game.
Dickinson also took over 1,000 faceoffs for the first time and won exactly 50%, also a career-high. It earned him a two-year, $8.5MM extension in Chicago midway through the season, but he’s more suited for a third-line role on a competitive club.
Outside of Dickinson and Bedard, who tied for the team lead in goals, the Blackhawks were abysmal offensively. Second- and third-place scorers Nick Foligno and Philipp Kurashev were no doubt buoyed by being Bedard’s linemates for most of the season, as the likely Calder Trophy winner still managed to churn out 61 points in 68 games on a severely undermanned group while missing time with a broken jaw.
The Hawks’ 2.17 goals per game were the worst in the league, ever so slightly behind the last-place Sharks. Getting back to the 70-80 point range, a reasonable goal for the Hawks next season, will require more forward depth.
Chicago holds 13 picks in the first two rounds over the next three years, but they’re still too early in their rebuild to start parting with assets for established talent. That could come as soon as next summer if everything goes right in 2024-25, but for now, that leaves the unrestricted free agent market as Davidson’s main option to add a pivot.
Many of the true second-line options on the market, such as Sean Monahan, have expressed their desire to play with a contender. They likely won’t be able to land a major upgrade on Dickinson, but someone like Rangers pending UFA Jack Roslovic could fit the bill as a more offensively-inclined option.
Davidson has the cap space to target more highly-touted options like Matt Duchene, Elias Lindholm and Chandler Stephenson, but there are immediate questions about whether any of them would be willing to jump into a rebuilding roster, even if it seems last season was the low point. Max Domi could also be a reasonable option to return for his second stint with the club after he led them in scoring in 2022-23 with 49 points in 60 games.