The Chicago Blackhawks young defensive core is beginning to take shape after they started this season with one of the older units in the NHL. It has been another rough year in the organization’s rebuild, but the promising performances from all of the young faces on the roster has given fans hope for the future. On the offensive side if things, Connor Bedard has lit the lamp 20 times for the second straight season.
Bedard has received some reinforcements in the forward group while getting help from the veterans brought in by general manager Kyle Davidson this past summer. Tyler Bertuzzi and Teuvo Teravainen have been consistent contributors in the top-six for the Blackhawks, and Ilya Mikheyev is quietly putting together the best season of his career on Bedard’s wing.
Unfortunately for Chicago’s front office, not every veteran signed over the summer panned out the way that they would have hoped for. One of the defenseman brought in on a multi-year deal has not played and over a month and his future with the franchise looks bleak.
TJ Brodie likely to be bought out by the Chicago Blackhawks
TJ Brodie hasn’t played in a game since the Blackhawks’ 6-3 win over Anaheim on March 1. Ben Pope of the Chicago Sun Times posted on X that he believes that the 34-year-old will be bought out by the organization this summer. Brodie has struggled mightily this season when given ice time, with many fans showing frustration over the fact that he was drawing into the lineup ahead of youngsters like Ethan Del Mastro and Nolan Allan.
In 54 games this year, Brodie has two goals and eight assists to go with his rough -18 plus/minus rating. It doesn’t help that the Blackhawks are at the bottom of the league’s standings, but his plus/minus rating being the second-lowest among active defenseman on the team makes it difficult to justify him getting back into the lineup over certain younger blue liners.
Brodie signed a two-year contract this offseason worth $7.5 million. His $3.75 million cap hit next season would be an easy salary for Chicago to eat, as they need help getting to the salary floor and moving off Brodie would allow for them so start younger defensemen to begin the campaign.
The Chicago Blackhawks young defensive core has shown promise
Artyom Levshunov and Sam Rinzel have made their NHL debuts on the Blackhawks blue line over the last month and have looked strong to begin their professional careers. Levshunov was the 2024 second overall pick and Rinzel went 25th overall in the 2022 draft. The pair will be the top-two right shot defensemen in Chicago for the foreseeable future, and someone like Brodie not drawing into the lineup has allowed for them to be on the active roster.
From the left side, Alex Vlasic leads the way in the group. The other two spots entering next season will be up for grabs, with a handful of players in competition to start the year in the NHL. Del Mastro, Allan, Kevin Korchinski and Wyatt Kaiser are all options for the new head coach to choose from along with any veterans that the front office might sign in free agency this summer.
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