{"id":25193,"date":"2018-03-11T20:35:00","date_gmt":"2018-03-12T00:35:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/?p=25193"},"modified":"2018-03-11T20:35:00","modified_gmt":"2018-03-12T00:35:00","slug":"chicago-blackhawks-prepare-early-for-next-season","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/2018\/03\/11\/chicago-blackhawks-prepare-early-for-next-season\/","title":{"rendered":"Chicago\u00a0Blackhawks\u00a0Prepare Early For Next Season"},"content":{"rendered":"

As the current NHL season is winding down, general manager Stan Bowman<\/strong> and the Chicago Blackhawks<\/a> prepare early with an eye on next season. Bowman has six of the current team’s defensemen set for the 2018-19 season after recently making two contract moves. Completing those moves will allow him to focus on the team’s forwards, four of whom are restricted free agents after the season. The RFA situation, the upcoming NHL Draft, potential trades, and free agents will all factor into the makeup of the 2018-19 Blackhawks.<\/p>\n

Chicago\u00a0Blackhawks\u00a0Prepare for Next Season<\/h1>\n

The 2017-18 NHL season has been a major disappointment for the franchise and its fans. The team went into the season hoping to erase the stinging memory of the first round playoff sweep<\/a> by the Nashville Predators<\/a>. Their goal was to compete for another Stanley Cup, not go into rebuild mode so soon. Unfortunately, Bowman’s off-season roster moves did not work out as planned. The\u00a0Blackhawks\u00a0are now facing an important summer rebuild process that will not be easy. All eyes are on Bowman as the rebuild begins and the Chicago\u00a0Blackhawks\u00a0prepare for next season.<\/p>\n

Blackhawks Prepare Early\u00a0On Defense<\/h2>\n

Over the last two weeks, Bowman settled on new contracts with two\u00a0defensemen. Based on numbers from CapFriendly.com<\/a>, Bowman signed potential restricted free agent\u00a0Erik Gustafsson<\/a><\/strong> to a two-year deal at $1.2 million per season. He also signed potential unrestricted free agent Jan Rutta<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0to a one year deal<\/a>\u00a0at an eye-popping $2.3 million. While signing\u00a0Rutta\u00a0to the one-year deal sets up the team’s six\u00a0defensemen\u00a0for next season, many are questioning the contract amount for a first-year player. There are many who feel Bowman rushed into the contracts and overpaid for both defensemen. For more on this risky move by Bowman, check out this from Sean Fitzgerald from Blackhawk Up<\/a>.<\/p>\n

“The \u2018Hawks now have committed $3.45 million to Gustafsson and\u00a0Rutta. The defense as a whole now has a\u00a0combined\u00a0cap hit of $20,363,462 for next season.”<\/em><\/p>\n

“So now, after wrapping my head around both contracts, I\u2019ve come to three conclusions. One, Bowman doesn\u2019t have a clue about contracts. Bowman now has a proven track record of overpaying the wrong guys \u2014 Bryan\u00a0Bickell, Marcus Kruger<\/a>, Brent Seabrook<\/a>, Jan\u00a0Rutta\u00a0and Erik Gustafsson<\/a> among them.”<\/em><\/p>\n

Critics will be questioning Bowman’s moves on the team’s defence corps for a long time. Their defensive play this season has been terrible with too many turnovers and poor D zone coverage. Many in Chicago were looking for the team to make drastic changes on defence, not stand pat. Taking the same six\u00a0defensemen\u00a0into next season is a risky move for the\u00a0Blackhawks general manager. Bowman’s fingers\u00a0will be\u00a0crossed\u00a0hoping the play of Brent Seabrook<\/a><\/strong> and Duncan Keith<\/a><\/strong> drastically improve next season. Without that, there will be many long nights for the Blackhawks goalies again.<\/p>\n

Forwards and Future Moves<\/h3>\n

The Chicago\u00a0Blackhawks\u00a0have most of their forwards locked up for next season. They will, however, need to deal with four players who will be restricted free agents and one who will be\u00a0an unrestricted free agent. How Bowman handles the RFA’s will decide how much cap space will be available to invest in any free agents during the off-season.<\/p>\n

Current Contracts<\/h4>\n

The current 21-man roster has eight forwards whose contracts are set\u00a0for next year and beyond.<\/p>\n