Blackhawks GM Kyle Davidson Prepared to Overhaul Roster

It’s been two weeks since the Chicago Blackhawks‘ season ended, and their miserable 28-42-12 record raised questions about where the team would go from here. They missed the playoffs for the fourth time in the last five seasons, and as the years go by, things seem to be getting worse and not better. Now, all eyes are on general manager (GM) Kyle Davidson to see what changes he will make this offseason.

The Blackhawks have many different angles to explore to improve the team, and there will be tough decisions involved. Davidson recently sat down for an interview with The Athletic to answer some burning questions about the team’s state. Here are the takeaways from that interview (from ‘Q&A: Blackhawks GM Kyle Davidson on Jonathan Toews, Patrick Kane, Jeff Greenberg and the long road ‘back to the top,” The Athletic, 4/29/22).

Kane & Toews’ Role in the Rebuild

A central question revolves around the futures of Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane with the Blackhawks. They both have one year left on their matching eight-year, $84 million deals. They could be hot trade commodities, especially Kane if they choose to go that route. So, that was a topic of discussion for Davidson, who was asked if he wants them to be a part of the rebuild.

He responded, “Look, there’s great value in having them be part of it. The main part of that is informing them how we see their role as part of that and what they can do to help us in this transition, in this phase of the organization’s trajectory. So, we have to have that conversation with them. How we believe they could assist, and how we believe they could be part of it. And then it’s up to them to determine if they’re amenable to that … or if they want to try something new. That’s all up to them.”

What I take from Davidson’s response is that he is staying open-minded regarding Kane and Toews. A couple of years ago, it would have seemed asinine to think that they would ever consider leaving or that the Blackhawks would ever want them to, but I think Davidson has the right idea with this. He knows that there’s no easy fix, and the team might not be the fit both players are looking for; they need to win now as Kane is 33 years old and Toews is 34.

The business side is attractive for the Blackhawks with both players too. Players of their caliber could receive big assets in a trade package if they choose to go that route, which is a thought that has surely crossed Davidson’s mind. But by saying, “It’s up to them to determine if they’re amendable to that (the plan),” makes me think he envisions the team beyond them. He has to do that, but it’s also interesting.

Does Davidson expect them not to agree to the team’s trajectory? I guess we’ll find out.

Strome & DeBrincat’s Future

Besides Kane and Toews, people are also curious about what will happen with Dylan Strome and Alex DeBrincat. Considering they both had significant success with Kane on the first line this season, there are questions about how that situation will end up. Strome is a restricted free agent this summer, and DeBrincat has one year left on his three-year, $19.2 million deal; however, DeBrincat is eligible for a contract extension when July rolls around. This means more big decisions for Davidson this offseason, and it all comes back to Kane.

Mark Lazerus told Davidson that Kane said he loved playing with Strome and DeBrincat and that if DeBrincat stays, he will want to too. He was asked if – because Kane sells tickets and is a driving force for the team – making him want to stay in Chicago by listening to his statements will be a priority for Davidson?

It was a long interview that covered a lot of different topics, including coaching, scouting, the roster, and more. However, these three tidbits clarify what fans should be preparing for when it comes to the Blackhawks this offseason. Davidson made it clear that changes will happen, even if they are tough to swallow. This will make for an exhilarating and nerve-wracking summer. He’s got a plan, and hopefully, it will successfully come together and help Chicago do the very thing that fans are craving – win!