The Chicago Blackhawks signed eight veteran free agents in a flurry on July 1 and made a trade with Vancouver for a pricey forward a few days earlier.

But don’t worry, Chicago should be able to pay 2024 Calder Trophy winner Connor Bedard and other prized prospects as their entry-level contracts expire over the next couple of years.

“We’ve spent a little more this summer obviously, but I don’t think anything we’ve done has, or will hinder, the bigger picture here,” general manager Kyle Davidson said. “We haven’t signed any obligations that kind of tighten your collar a little bit where you’re uncomfortable with anything.

“We have added some better players, I think, but nothing that will hinder the opportunity or potential payment of some of our younger prospects. Very happy, very comfortable with everything that’s happened and the horizon.”  See following video.

Sizable Payroll Bump

Chicago’s payroll for 2024-25 is a lot closer to the NHL’s salary cap than last season, when the Blackhawks paid out $70 million to players, ranking 31st in the league. BTW: The Blackhawks finished in 31st place in the standings too and set a franchise record for losses at 23-53-6.

Following the spending spree, Chicago’s projected 2024-25 payroll will rise to about $83 million. That varies slightly depending in the database source.

The league’s salary cap will rise to $88 million for the coming season, and the Blackhawks should climb in the standings by adding forwards Tyler Bertuzzi, Teuvo Teravainen, Ilya Mikheyev, Pat Maroon and Craig Smith, defensemen T.J. Brodie and Alec Martinez, and goalie Laurent Brossoit.

That leaves the Blackhawks with room for a last-minute buy this fall.

More importantly, the sums and terms of the contracts with the new and existing veteran players shouldn’t impair the rebuilding Blackhawks when it comes to keeping Bedard, defenseman Kevin Korchinski and other youngsters who figure to form Chicago’s long-term core.

• Bedard’s entry-level contract expires in Summer 2026. So does Korchinski’s. Both should be in line for big raises with longer terms. A little history: Patrick Kane’ second contract, signed in 2010, bumped him from entry level to $6.3 million per season on a five-year term.
• Phillip Kurashev’s two-year $4.5 million contract, awarded through arbitration a year ago, runs out in Summer 2025 when he become a restricted free agent with arbitration rights. Kurashev, had a breakout season in 2023-24 with 18 goals and 54 points alongside Bedard, and has shown he should be a top-6 NHL forward. The Blackhawks will be working to lock him in.
• Forwards Frank Nazar’s and Colton Dach’s entry-level contracts expire in Summer 2026. Both will be RFAs.
• Forward Landon Slaggert’s contract expires next summer when he becomes an RFA.
• Defenseman Wyatt Kaiser’s entry-level contract expires in Summer 2025. He’ll be an RFA.
• D-men Ethan Del Mastro and Nolan Allan have deals that run out in 2026. Both become RFAs.
• Defenseman Alex Vlasic is clearly cemented as part of Chicago’s long-term core after signing a six-year, $27.6 million contract on April 25. The 23-year-old had a terrific season on a terrible team last season.

Almost $24 million is set to come off the Blackhawks books for 2025-26 as contracts to Taylor Hall, Andreas Athanasiou, Ryan Donato, Maroon, Smith and Martinez expires. Davidson will be able to pick who to negotiate with, based on mutual interest of course.