The Chicago Blackhawks need better options at center, or at least one for their top-6. This upgrade doesn’t have to be short-term. Rather, the team would probably want a little term on whichever player they decide to bring in if it comes to that.
A big issue for the Blackhawks this season has been the lack of scoring and a top-6 center could really change that. You may be thinking that Frank Nazar could step right into the NHL now with how good he’s looked in the AHL this season, but there’s no guarantee that he will be at the level needed right now. In time, I fully believe he can be a very impactful player in the NHL, but he may be better suited to start out as the third line center with less pressure or on the wing as he develops.
Related: Blackhawks: This Will Be the Last Time Nazar is Seen in the AHL
This leads us to the conclusion that the Blackhawks should indeed target a top-6 center with even a little bit of term left on his deal this season. This would ideally bring in a center who could add scoring, faceoffs, and give Luke Richardson and company one less thing to worry about in that forward group.
Chicago isn’t alone in the market for centers though. If they are looking right now, Elliotte Friedman notes that the Nashville Predators are also in the mix. He suggests that these two teams will have to judge when more teams will also seriously enter the market for centers as it will create even more competition.
The Blackhawks have the cap space and assets to bring in someone impactful and who they best think fits the role needed in Chicago, but Nashville is desperate to turn things around. Freidman also suggested the Toronto Maple Leafs as a team who should enter the mix for an available center. This would likely come closer to the trade deadline, but still a team for the Blackhawks to contend with on the market.
More teams than just Toronto will be at work to clear cap space and open up the possibility to add to their playoff-bound teams at center. But the longer Chicago waits, more sellers will reveal themselves. The sooner the Blackhawks get on acquiring a top-6 center, the more time the coaching staff and Kyle Davidson have to see what works and what doesn’t before making more decisions.
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