This summer, the Chicago Blackhawks made headlines with their free agent signings.
Good vibes were felt all across the Windy City when GM Kyle Davidson brought Teuvo Teravainen back home, inked a 30-goal scorer in Tyler Bertuzzi to a four-year deal, and bolstered the goalie position with Laurent Brossoit.
Due to a combination of injuries, poor team play, and lackluster contributions from the new additions, the Hawks have disappointed this season.
The team boasts a poor record, has scored the third-fewest goals in the league, and is second-to-last in the Central Division, ahead of only the Nashville Predators.
While the Hawks may have had a busy offseason, no one was more active on July 1st than the Predators.
Nashville general manager Barry Trotz, in a matter of hours, added Steven Stamkos, Jonathan Marchessault, and Brady Skjei. Trotz also gave each player (all on the wrong side of 30) at least four years of term and at least an average annual salary of $5.5 million.
After their surprising playoff run last year and the impressive offseason additions, many believed Nashville would easily qualify for a playoff spot and were legitimate Stanley Cup contenders.
Yet, almost a quarter of the way through the season, Stamkos and Marchessault have a combined seven goals and 17 points in 36 games, Skjei is a -6, and they have scored fewer goals than the lowly Blackhawks.
The Predators must serve as a cautionary tale for Kyle Davidson and the Blackhawks.
There is still time for Nashville to turn their season around, but the future doesn’t look as bright as it did in July. By the 2027-2028 season, the Preds will be paying a 38-year-old Stamkos, 37-year-old Marchessault, and 34-year-old Skjei $20.5 million.
While all three may be higher-end players now, you simply cannot have a competitive team while committing that much to aging, declining veterans.
As Davidson surveys the free agent class this summer, he must avoid falling into the same trap as Trotz. With players such as Mitch Marner, Nikolaj Ehlers, and Brock Boeser all potentially available, Davidson needs to consider the ramifications of any long-term, expensive deals he may offer them.
What may be enticing in July can handicap a team in the long-run. If Davidson is not careful, he may wind up with a roster featuring a generational talent in Connor Bedard surrounded by overpaid, once-relevant players and no hope of Stanley Cup contention.
