The Chicago Blackhawks have faced significant challenges since their last Stanley Cup victory in 2015. This decline wasn’t entirely unexpected—after pushing their roster to the limit since 2009, a falloff was almost inevitable as the cost of sustained success began to show.
As a Pittsburgh Penguins fan, I can’t help but worry the team may follow a similar path. The Penguins’ aging core and history of trading away top prospects and draft picks to stay competitive in recent years feels eerily familiar.
Things in Chicago seem tense. Connor Bedard, the franchise’s new face, was visibly frustrated at times with the team’s performance this season. At the trade deadline, the Blackhawks dealt defenseman Seth Jones to Florida in exchange for future assets and young goaltender Spencer Knight. Still, the future remains uncertain for one promising player on their roster.
In a bid to give Bedard more support, Chicago bumped up a veteran winger to play on his line. The move paid off—at least for the winger, who finished the season with 62 points, split evenly between goals and assists, far surpassing his previous career highs.
This could be a golden opportunity for the Penguins. If he hits free agency, they should make an aggressive offer. The big question is whether he’s peaked or is just hitting his stride. His surge in production coincided with his promotion to Bedard’s line, which suggests untapped potential.
Now, imagine pairing him with Sidney Crosby. With Crosby’s elite playmaking, this winger could elevate his game even further. Projections suggest a 3-year, $4.2 million per year deal, but I’d go as high as $5 million annually for four years. On top of that, his versatility to play center makes him a strong candidate to step into a second-line role when Malkin eventually retires.
