It’s no mystery that the Chicago Blackhawks have lots more work to do in the offseason, which includes adding a star player with all of the money that will be available to them.
Less than a month ago there were three clear targets that the team could have set their sights on, but just a few weeks later, that group has seemingly dwindled to just one, and the 4 Nations Face-Off had a big part to play in that.
Based on performances this season, I would have ranked the star targets the Blackhawks should’ve and likely could’ve pushed for starting with Mikko Rantanen, then Mitch Marner, followed by Elias Pettersson.
Mikko Rantanen
If Rantanen was going to hit the open market after staying with the Colorado Avalanche, we never would’ve seen his struggles with a center not named Nathan MacKinnon. I’m not sure if Rantanen was going to get $14 million AAV in free agency, but his play since joining the Carolina Hurricanes suggests he definitely won’t.
The 4 Nations Face-Off didn’t push him in either direction in terms of value, but one goal and three points on the Hurricanes has made him less attractive to the Blackhawks. If Rantanen can’t click with Sebastian Aho and doesn’t find his scoring we’re used to for the rest of the season, do the Blackhawks really want to take that chance for so long and for so much money if Connor Bedard isn’t the right linemate for him?
Rantanen does have 26 goals and 67 points in 56 games, is a 50 goal scorer, has hit 100 points in each of the past two seasons, and has finished with over a point-per-game in six of his past seven seasons. He is a superstar, but is a huge commitment and a little bit of an unknown in a new environment. He has time to get comfortable in Carolina and pick his game up, so he remains to be seen. He isn’t the top target anymore for the Blackhawks though.
Mitch Marner
As much as you can sometimes drag on Marner for his soft play, he is a definite star. He has put together seven consecutive seasons at over a point-per-game and has 16 goals and 71 points in 56 games this season. He is fast, is a great playmaker, and is recognized for being strong defensively as well, finishing top-10 in Selke trophy voting in two of the past four years, including being a finalist two seasons ago.
Marner really showed he’s worth it in the 4 Nations Face-Off. He has been criticized for a player that can’t step up in big games or the playoffs and he shut those down by being one of Canada’s best players when it mattered. He’s going to want a lot and there is still the worry about which player shows up late in the season, but his passing ability might just be perfect for Bedard.
Marner has shot to the top of the options and I’m betting the Blackhawks hope he becomes available in free agency.
Elias Pettersson
There may not be a player whose value has dropped more than Pettersson this season. He turned from a player who has scored 30+ goals in three straight seasons, topped 100 points two seasons ago, and has played at over a point-per-game in each of the past two seasons to 11 goals and 35 points in 51 games.
Elias Pettersson gets a break, but just can't keep his shot under the crossbar.#Canucks #UtahHC
🎥: Sportsnet | NHL pic.twitter.com/M1sxczesJ7— CanucksArmy (@CanucksArmy) February 24, 2025
Pettersson is playing worse defensively and is a minus player, is hitting less, and because of his struggles, is playing less now too. J.T. Miller is gone and Pettersson hasn’t turned his game around. During the 4 Nations Face-Off with better players, teams were hoping and expecting to see him play at the level he is known to play at, and he was invisible.
His trade value has dropped so far below what it was before signing his contract that now the Vancouver Canucks either bite that bullet to move on or stick it out and hope for the best. In terms of Chicago, it is much too risky with Pettersson’s struggles to not only give up assets, but take on seven more years of an $11.6 million AAV contract. Unless something drastically changes, Pettersson shouldn’t even be on the Blackhawk’s radar anymore.
Kyle Davidson and the Blackhawks have to make some big decisions in the offseason, but I also wouldn’t be shocked if the team isn’t able to get the star player they want as opportunities to get these players don’t come very often and there’s lots of teams interested.
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