The McDavid Contract Extension Is PERFECT For The Chicago Blackhawks
This was IMMEDIATELY music to my ears. There's an entire class of free agents coming available soon and as much as everyone wants the Blackhawks to be in the market for a mega star to lead the team and be a running mate with Bedard it's impossible to envision that scenario playing out after this season. The Blackhawks are going to be bad again and even though they'll have a TON of cap space no super star wants to join a losing team.
That is why this next three years is absolutely CRUCIAL for the Blackhawks. The rebuild will be done by the time McDavid's latest deal expires. IF the Blackhawks young core of Bedard, Nazar, Rinzel, Knight, Lev, Vlasic, + other prospects look like the star players we all hope they can be then suddenly Chicago becomes an attractive option. Great city, young and cost controlled quality players. They would need one super star to take the rebuild to the next level. It's on Kyle Davidson and the rest of the organization to make star players around the league believe again.
The Cap continues to go up. Chicago will have Murphy, Bertuzzi, Teravainen, the piece of paper with Shea Weber's name on it, Burakovsky, Mikheyev, and basically anyone on the roster making over a million bucks off the books. Sure, there will need to be deals for Bedard, Rinzel, etc between now and then, but the Blackhawks will have hopefully a core that can carry them to the playoffs, and more guys who they've drafted playing on their rookie deals when McDavid is available again. The most important thing to make this possible is for the young guys to come good and the second most important thing is for Stan Bowman to fail as the GM of the Oilers to make McDavid want to leave when it's done.
This is a MONSTER year for the Blackhawks. They need to take a leap forward on the ice, even if it isn't in the standings and then be ready to compete the following two years. If they do that and Edmonton can't sustain what they've been doing then McDavid might look for greener pastures. An original 6 team with hopefully young stars in a great city would be tough to beat. Need it. Want it. 97 at 31 years old signing to play with a 23 year old 98...makes me all fuzzing. Hockey season starts tomorrow. Lets. GO.