Breaking down the Blackhawks' plans for their restricted free agents

New York Times

a day ago

The NHL Draft is done. The Chicago Blackhawks' next order of business is dealing with their restricted free agents.
The Blackhawks don't have many RFAs — just seven this season — but general manager Kyle Davidson does have some decisions to make and some contracts to negotiate.
Here are the players the Blackhawks will qualify and not qualify heading into free agency, according to a team source, and some context as to why each decision is likely being made:
Louis Crevier, defenseman: Crevier, 24, has shown he can probably be a depth NHL defenseman or at least bounce between the AHL and NHL. That might be his ceiling, but as a 2020 seventh-rounder, he's exceeded expectations. He has a qualifying offer of $813,750. An extension is probably right around that.
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Wyatt Kaiser, defenseman: Kaiser's contract negotiations will be the most interesting among RFAs. The Blackhawks think the 22-year-old can potentially be one of their top-four defensemen in the years to come. He's just not definitively that yet. He looked much better after returning to the Blackhawks after his final stint in the AHL last season, but the reality is he still spent time in the AHL last season and had to work through some inconsistencies. The Blackhawks probably don't want to commit a long-term deal with a significant cap hit to him just yet. With a larger sample, they'll be happy to.
AFP Analytics projects a $2.5 million cap hit on a three-year extension and about a $4 million cap hit on a six-year deal. It probably makes sense for both sides to hold off on a long-term deal. It is also worth noting Kaiser doesn't have arbitration rights or much leverage in negotiations, other than holding out. The Blackhawks likely offer him a short-term deal that rewards him but also allows some flexibility if he doesn't become the player they envision him to be. His qualifying offer is $874,125.
Arvid Söderblom, goalie: The 25-year-old Söderblom altered his future with the Blackhawks last season. He was destined to play in the AHL for the 2024-25 season after consistently struggling in the NHL the prior years. The Blackhawks even went out and signed another NHL goalie because they lost trust in him. But then an injury opened the door to Söderblom getting another NHL stint and he took full advantage of it. Now he'll likely get a bump in pay from the $962,500 cap hit on his last deal. AFP Analytics projects he'll receive a two-year deal with about a $1.7 million cap hit. That seems fair. How he and Spencer Knight play over the next few years will likely determine how set the Blackhawks feel with their goalies for the future.
Philipp Kurashev, forward: A year ago, we were talking about Kurashev as a possible fit for the Blackhawks' long-term future. He was coming off a career season where he had some chemistry with Connor Bedard. But after a 2024-25 season that included just 14 points in 51 games and multiple healthy-scratch stretches, Kurashev will now become an unrestricted free agent. There was zero chance the Blackhawks were going to meet his qualifying offer of $2.25 million. You would think some NHL team will give him another chance, but he's going to have to prove himself wherever he ends up.
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Jalen Luypen, forward: It felt like it could have gone either way with Luypen. He played 56 regular-season games and seven playoff games for the Rockford IceHogs last season as a solid fourth-line forward. But with so many more prospects coming in and Luypen probably not projecting to be an NHL player, he won't receive a qualifying offer.
Aku Räty, forward: Raty was acquired by the Blackhawks as part of a trade with the Utah Mammoth around the trade deadline. He was assigned to the Rockford IceHogs and played 15 regular-season games and two playoff games for them. He's already set to play in Finland for next season.
Antti Saarela, forward: Saarela saw the writing on the wall for his NHL future after just one season with the IceHogs. He played the 2023-24 season with the IceHogs and then agreed with the Blackhawks to be loaned out to Lukko, a Finnish team, last season. His contract with the Blackhawks ended after last season.
(Photo of Wyatt Kaiser: Bob Kupbens / Imagn Images)