We hear all the time that an NHL GM makes his money during the offseason, and it’s true that the draft, free agency and other important periods are critical in forming a team and building a contender. However, perhaps equally important is keeping that group of players together, locking in a team’s most crucial foundations. That’s why a good GM never rests, even during the season. In order to keep a player from hitting free agency, that player’s contract must first be extended, an event that often happens during the season. This year will be no different for the Blackhawks. With 15 players set to hit some sort of free agency next summer, GM Kyle Davidson’s toughest decisions will be regarding three key skaters.
This year won’t be the first time that the 24-year-old budding star will be at the center of contract talks with the Blackhawks – he made headlines when he won an arbitration hearing against the team at this time last summer. Still, Kurashev immediately made Chicago’s troubles worthwhile, enjoying his best season yet. While much of his success could be attributed to the fact that he spent most of his time alongside superstar Connor Bedard, there’s no denying his numbers – 18 goals and 36 assists in 75 games.
This season should prove to be an even more interesting one for Kurashev and the Blackhawks. Do they keep him on the top line with Bedard? He faces extremely increased competition for his top-line winger role after all of Chicago’s free agency additions, but the pair certainly worked well together last year. If he can replicate last season’s success and prove he belongs as one of the franchise’s cornerstones, he’ll earn a pretty nice payday at some point during this season. If he’s bumped off of the top line and doesn’t perform as well with less talented linemates, his future paycheck could take a pretty big hit, or the Blackhawks could open up his spot to higher-upside prospects eager to take it from him.
One of those “higher-upside prospects”, Landon Slaggert, finds himself in the final year of his own contract and is expected to finish his entry-level deal with AHL Rockford this season. Slaggert, the all-around center from Notre Dame, was solid at both ends of the ice at the end of last season when he came to Chicago following the conclusion of his senior year with the Fighting Irish. He put up four points in 16 games to close out the year, but also finished with a plus-minus of +1 and showed immense potential.
If Slaggert spends the season with the IceHogs, there’s little doubt he’ll be offered an extension to stay with the team. At 22 years old, he would then likely move to Chicago where he’ll have a chance to prove himself to the Blackhawks’ front office, but until then, he’s one of the team’s best prospects and has a strong chance to be a staple on the bottom six in the future.
One of the Blackhawks’ most promising defensemen, Wyatt Kaiser, finds himself in a similar situation to that of Slaggert. After concluding the 2022-23 season in Chicago after turning pro, the all-around blueliner spent 32 games with the Blackhawks and 37 games in Rockford last year. He exhibited massive improvement in Chicago throughout the year, becoming more confident with the puck and more aware defensively.
Still, there’s a lot of work to do if Kaiser hopes to have the same success at the next level that a player like Alex Vlasic has had. Defensemen take longer to develop, no doubt, but Kaiser won’t have too many more chances to prove himself to the Blackhawks. Whether he returns to the AHL or serves as an extra on the NHL roster, Kaiser will have to stand out if he is to receive an extension before it’s too late.
