There are a total of 13 players who suited up for the Chicago Blackhawks at one point last season that are not on the team this season. Many of them have found new homes, but nearly every one of them are going to be competing for a spot on their new team this season.
We’re going to break down the list of players into five different groups and discuss their chances, potential impact, and where everyone will be playing this season. There are the players that have a spot to lose, players with a good shot at making their NHL team, likely AHL players, players on PTOs, and either unsigned or in a different league.
3 Former Blackhawks With a Spot to Lose
Corey Perry didn’t spend long in Chicago, but not many are soon to forget his time on the team. The Edmonton Oilers picked him up last season after the Blackhawks parted with him and he went on a run to the Stanley Cup Final again. While he had some struggles, he was re-signed by the Oilers and should fit in on the fourth line all season.
Anthony Beauvillier jumped around to three different teams last season, the middle of which was the Blackhawks. His impact wasn’t very big, scoring just two goals and six points in 23 games, but his track record shows he is still capable of playing in the top-9. He should get a pretty good chance to do so in Pittsburgh this season as it appears the team is trying to spread the wealth out on their forward lines to create better depth. Beauvillier will make the Penguins, it’s just a matter of where he plays.
Related: Blackhawks’ New Captain Nick Foligno Has 3 Important Milestones Coming in 2024-25
The Dallas Stars lost a little bit of talent in the offseason, but gained it back in some young forwards who will seize full time roles on the team this season. With the shuffling, newly signed Colin Blackwell will have a place on the fourth line. He is still an NHL talent and there aren’t many players pushing for spots over him in training camp with Logan Stankoven and Mavrik Bourque already graduating to higher in the lineup.
3 Fringe NHLers Fighting for Roster Spot in NHL
Taylor Raddysh had a tough season for the Blackhawks and that led to the team not bringing him back. He got himself a contract with the Washington Capitals, and with more serious and lengthy injuries to T.J. Oshie and Nicklas Backstrom, there will be a spot on the roster for Raddysh to earn. He scored 20 goals in 2022-23 and we aren’t that far removed from that season, so he can be impactful once again. There are spots up for grabs on the wing in the bottom-6 and I expect him to make the opening night roster.
Mackenzie Entwistle might have a harder time making the NHL roster out of training camp in Florida. The 25-year-old has now played the majority of three full seasons in the NHL and hasn’t stood out. At best, he will be a fourth liner who will play around 11 minutes and score five goals and 11 points over the course of the season. The Panthers have some options that might get a shot ahead of him this season.
Reese Johnson has a chance to play his third consecutive full season in the NHL. He didn’t get into every game the past two seasons with the Blackhawks, but he hung around and got into over half. That is the expectation again this season on a weaker Minnesota Wild with poor depth. He should make the Wild as a 13th or 14th forward and see some time as there isn’t very much competition for his spot. But don’t get me wrong, he’ll have to earn it.
Full Time AHLers
The Panthers have been great with picking up players and giving them a chance. A lot of the time, this turns out well for them. I don’t exactly expect anything big from Jaycob Megna as there are a lot of players, young and old, fighting for 7 spots on the back-end. Megna is a little lower down the depth chart this season, but is a solid depth option if injuries start to pile up.
Like Megna, Filip Roos is likely not going to see much NHL action at all this season. He is lower on the depth chart in Ottawa, only saw four games last season in Chicago, and has played a total of 21 NHL games. If things get bad, he might have to step in, but he is an AHL talent and hasn’t proven otherwise.
Jarred Tinordi got himself a contract with the Calgary Flames, but with so many options on the back-end, he won’t see much NHL action. It is likely the rebuilding Flames are going to prioritize younger defensemen over Tinordi, but he is there as a safety net of sorts with NHL experience.
2 Players on PTOs Looking for NHL Contracts
Tyler Johnson settled on a PTO this offseason, but it is from the Boston Bruins. He made it clear he is looking to compete in the playoffs this season and I doubt he doesn’t beat out a handful of players on the Bruins and earns a contract. He scored 17 goals and 31 points in 67 games last season and still has the drive to win. But in the end, he hasn’t earned a contract yet and has to prove he hasn’t lost a step from last season.
Boris Katchouk is one of a few players signed to a PTO with the Anaheim Ducks and won’t have the easiest path in earning a contract, never mind a spot on the team. The fourth line and next up depth isn’t stellar for the Ducks, but Katchouk isn’t exactly a standout player. He scored five goals and nine points in 38 games for the Blackhawks last season before being traded to Ottawa. He’ll have to beat out players like Jensen Harkins, Ross Johnston, Brett Leason, and Brock McGinn.
Not in the NHL
Nikita Zaistev returned to Russia and signed with SKA St. Petersburg a while ago, so there isn’t a chance he ever returns to North America to play, never mind returns this season in any capacity since he signed a four-year deal.
Rem Pitlick is still looking for a contract. He might have to settle for something overseas or for an AHL contract at this point. There are still a number of more attractive candidates to sign for teams than someone who managed no points in nine games for Chicago even though his AHL numbers were very good.
While the training camp battles in Chicago are going to be great, it’s also interesting to keep an eye on players who just departed from the Blackhawks to see how they’re doing as well this season.
Recent Blackhawks News
Why Connor Bedard Was Not Named Captain
Nick Foligno Named Captain Of Blackhawks
Taylor Hall Cleared To Play For Start Of Training Camp
Former Maple Leafs Forward Is The Key To Progressing Blackhawks in Rebuild
