2026 NHL free agency: How can the Chicago Blackhawks return to winning ways?

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The NHL’s off-season has arrived, and teams are focused on trades and free agency to improve their results in 2026-27. And one of the teams that desperately needs to take the next competitive step is the Chicago Blackhawks.

The Blackhawks are coming off their sixth-straight season without making the Stanley Cup playoffs. And while they’ve been on a clear rebuild under GM Kyle Davidson and acquired a generational talent in star center Connor Bedard, there’s still a feeling Chicago doesn’t have enough veteran skill or high-end talent surrounding Bedard to compete with the genuine Cup threats in the Central Division.

The $36.3 million in salary cap space the Blackhawks have certainly gives them the ability to outbid just about any team in the league. Still, as we’ve seen in recent years, free agents aren’t exactly rushing to sign in Chicago.

In fact, the Hawks’ woes in the standings are reason enough for veterans to want to avoid the Windy City, as the Blackhawks aren’t just one or two players away from winning a championship. Players know the Hawks aren’t close to winning it all, so even a solid payday isn’t sufficient reason for players to sign with Chicago.

That said, it’s clear what kind of free agents the Blackhawks need. For instance, a genuine scoring winger like Buffalo Sabres right winger Alex Tuch would have been perfect for Bedard to play alongside, but that ship has sailed. The Blackhawks targeted another Sabres player, however, dealing for 25-year-old defenseman Bowen Byram.

MORE: 2026 NHL free agency: Items the Maple Leafs must address this off-season

Meanwhile, the Blackhawks also could use veteran depth on defense. They traded veteran Connor Murphy to the Edmonton Oilers this past season, but Chicago could benefit from an experienced blueliner to provide some solid play in their own zone. Would someone like Jacob Trouba or Mario Ferraro fit with the Blackhawks?

Finally, the Blackhawks could turn to the free-agent market by signing a veteran like Seattle Kraken winger Jaden Schwartz or Montreal Canadiens sniper Patrik Laine. Schwartz is only one year removed from a 26-goal, 49-point season, while Laine is one year removed from a 20-goal season in only 52 games. Both Laine and Schwartz might be persuaded to take less money on a short-term contract with the Hawks and earn a bigger raise from Davidson down the road.

The Blackhawks may choose to renovate their roster via trades rather than free agency, and there’s nothing inherently wrong with that approach. But free agency only costs you cap space, which may make it the more appealing option for Chicago management and ownership. The trick is to convince players to sign team-friendly contracts, but that’s what Davidson’s challenge is.

Not all that long ago, Chicago was a destination city for players. The opportunity to play with stars Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane was one players leapt at, and the Blackhawks could eventually get back to that point. But to do so, they’re going to need all of the help they can get, and that includes help on the free-agent front.

If the Hawks can strike gold with a high-impact signing or two, they’re going to rise up the ranks of the Central. If Chicago doesn’t get the right free agents in place, there’s going to be more misery in store for Blackhawks fans.