Fantasy Sleepers, Breakouts and Busts From Every NHL Team: Chicago Blackhawks
Connor Bedard's supporting cast grows as Tyler Bertuzzi eyes a career year and Sam Rinzel prepares for top-pair duties. Discover which Windy City stars will anchor rosters.
Video Transcript
Okay, in the Central I think the St. Louis Blues had the best off season.
They add Connor McMichael-- they moved out Kyrou but they add Connor McMichael, they add Mason McTavish, on Brandon Carlo on defense and I think th-those additions you know both, both McTavish and McMichael can play center.
They may not because they have Robert Thomas there, but I think those moves were, were excellent and they, they could contend for a wild card spot.
In terms of worst I mean I'll s-I'll say Dallas but I'll give an honorable mention 'cause we Of everything we just talked about with Dallas the honorable mention might be the Chicago Blackhawks 'cause they way overpaid for Bo and Byram.
Not only return but salary.
They way overpaid for Patrick Kane and the moves that they made were basically Band-Aids on bullet hole.
They're, they're still not anywhere close to being a contender and they should be with the young talent that they've drafted over the last few years.
Kelsey what do you think?
Best and worst off season in the central division?
So I did like the St. Louis Blues off season as well but I'm actually gonna go with the Utah Mammoth here.
I like a lot of the moves that they made.
They obviously got some, guys under contract.
They re-signed John Marino.
Obviously Logan Cooley has been signed to that massive extension as well.
They acquired Vincent Trocheck, they got Anders Lee.
So I mean I think in es-in essence they're improving the weak areas of their roster.
They're a lot stronger down the middle than they were last season.
I do think they might still need a little bit of a better situation in goal at least a better tandem there.
But I mean I, I like what this team's doing.
I think that his is a playoff team again this year.
I think this is a team that's going to keep improving and I like their offseason so far and actually Mike I'm gonna go with Chicago for the worst off season because to me I mean over-- I wouldn't , I wouldn't necessarily I think the p-overpayment for Patrick Kane makes a little bit more sense just given his stature with the organization.
They needed some veteran presence or obviously needed to fill in some cap space But I still will never understand that extension for Bowen Byram.
That's a vast over payment I think in parts of their roster.
They're investing money in the wrong places and that might come back to bite them even with the rising cap.
And I don't think they've done enough to really take a substantial step forward So I would grade them as the worst off season only because they overpaid and they didn't get a whole lot in terms of adding to the actual roster and bolstering their standings place.
So I don't think this is a playoff team and it's still probably not going to be a playoff team for a few more years unless they start to course correct a little bit
