The Athletic’s Corey Pronman often reminds me that he predicts the Chicago Blackhawks’ rebuild to take much longer than people expect. Most people assume it’ll take four to six years — Pronman places it around eight to 10.
The Blackhawks are in their third season of rebuilding. The first was a complete teardown, which resulted in Connor Bedard. Last season was supposed to be better, but injuries derailed any hope of that, and the Blackhawks took Artyom Levshunov with the No. 2 pick. And while the Blackhawks are more competitive this season, their results have been similar to the past two seasons. Before Wednesday’s games, the Blackhawks were 32nd in points percentage and aligned with another top-five draft pick.
Blackhawks general manager Kyle Davidson is unlikely to be alarmed by any of this. When he took over, his long-term plan wasn’t centered around being successful early on. His focus was getting as many high draft picks as possible and putting together a team of them in the future. How long will that take? Our two-part series projecting the Blackhawks’ roster through the 2029-30 season may help answer that.
In the first part, we focused on the 2025-26 season. In this part, we advance the projections over four more seasons. The roster projections get more speculative by the year. Players like Colton Dach and Martin Misiak may replace other players on these rosters. Of course, it’s also unlikely Davidson will build these teams with so many of his own prospects, but you can see how it’s possible. The Blackhawks have a lot of picks coming.
2026-2027 season
Heading into 2026-27, we’ll know how much Bedard’s second contract will cost the Blackhawks. Will he sign a bridge deal or a long-term deal? What percentage of the salary cap will he seek?
Of course, what he does over the next season and a half could play into that. Players who have warranted 14 to 15 percent of the cap on their second deals were already producing at elite rates by this point. With three goals and 13 points in 17 games this season, Bedard isn’t there yet. The Blackhawks know how important he is to the franchise, though. He’s the main attraction and will be for the foreseeable future.
If the Blackhawks can persuade Bedard to sign an eight-year extension, it’ll likely be a massive number at the time but more digestible in the long term. For example, if the cap ceiling increases to around $96 million for the 2026-27 season and Bedard seeks 15 percent of that — about what Auston Matthews and Connor McDavid got on their second deals — Bedard’s cap hit would be $15.6 million. If Bedard isn’t producing at their rates by next season, 10 to 12 percent might be more realistic, which could be in the range of $10 million to $13 million.
Bedard’s contract isn’t the only one Davidson will have to figure out before the 2026-27 season. Kevin Korchinski, Frank Nazar and Lukas Reichel will also be restricted free agents leading up to that season. As of now, none of those players will likely get large contracts. That could change during the 2024-25 season, but none of those players has much NHL production to give them much leverage.
Aside from Bedard’s, the Blackhawks’ other major contracts will be Seth Jones ($9.5 million), Tyler Bertuzzi ($5.5 million), Teuvo Teräväinen ($5.4 million) and Alex Vlasic ($4.6 million). Philipp Kurashev will also likely be on another contract. If the Blackhawks don’t make a major offseason splash leading into the 2025-26 season, as I speculated last week, it could come the following offseason. McDavid, Kirill Kaprizov, Jack Eichel, Artemi Panarin and Kyle Connor are among the players who could become free agents before the 2026-27 season.
The likely permanent newcomers to the 2026-27 roster will be Drew Commesso, Ryan Greene, Nick Lardis, Oliver Moore, Paul Ludwinski, Roman Kansterov and Sam Rinzel.
Here are the likely players in the 2026-27 lineup with their ages at the start of the season and where their contracts are likely to stand:
|
Player
|
Age in 2026
|
Contract
|
|---|---|---|
|
Major UFA signing
|
N/A
|
First or second year of contract
|
|
Connor Bedard
|
21
|
First year of second contract
|
|
Tyler Bertuzzi
|
31
|
$5.5 million, third year of four-year contract
|
|
Colton Dach
|
23
|
LIkely first year of second contract
|
|
Ryan Greene
|
22
|
Likely third year of entry-level contract
|
|
Roman Kantserov
|
22
|
Likely first year of entry-level contract
|
|
Philipp Kurashev
|
26
|
Second year of third contract
|
|
Nick Lardis
|
21
|
$896,666, second year of entry-level contract
|
|
Paul Ludwinski
|
22
|
$900,000, third year of entry-level contract
|
|
Frank Nazar
|
22
|
First year of second contract
|
|
Teuvo Teräväinen
|
32
|
$5.4 million, final year of contract
|
|
Oliver Moore
|
21
|
Likely third year of entry-level contract
|
|
Samuel Savoie
|
22
|
$846,666, final year of entry-level contract
|
|
Landon Slaggert
|
24
|
$900,000, second year of second contract
|
|
Player
|
Age in 2026
|
Contract
|
|---|---|---|
|
Seth Jones
|
32
|
$9.5 million, fifth year of eight-year contract
|
|
Wyatt Kaiser
|
24
|
Likely second year of second contract
|
|
Kevin Korchinski
|
22
|
First year of second contract
|
|
Artyom Levshunov
|
20
|
$975,000, likely second year of entry-level contract
|
|
Sam Rinzel
|
22
|
Likely third year of entry-level contract
|
|
Alex Vlasic
|
25
|
$4.6 million, third year of six-year contract
|
|
Player
|
Age in 2026
|
Contract
|
|---|---|---|
|
Drew Commesso
|
24
|
First year of second contract
|
|
Arvid Söderblom
|
27
|
Second year of third contract
|
2027-28 season
The Blackhawks will have some tough roster decisions as more of their high-round picks make their way through the system.
By the 2027-28 season, the Blackhawks could be introducing three first-round picks to their lineup. That could include Sacha Boisvert and Marek Vanacker, who were drafted in the first round in 2024, and whomever they take with their first pick in 2025.
If Monday’s standings were to hold, the Blackhawks would have the best odds of picking first in the 2025 draft. The No. 1 player in Corey Pronman’s recent rankings was Porter Martone, a winger.
A.J. Spellacy could be another newcomer to the lineup. Depending on where prospects are in their development, the Blackhawks may look to buy out Bertuzzi. As you can see below, the lineup decision could get challenging.
Here are the likely players in the 2027-28 lineup with their ages at the start of the season and where their contracts are likely to stand:
|
Player
|
Age in 2027
|
Contract
|
|---|---|---|
|
2025 top-five pick
|
20
|
Possible first or second year of entry-level contract
|
|
Major UFA signing
|
N/A
|
Second or third year of contract
|
|
Connor Bedard
|
22
|
Second year of second contract
|
|
Tyler Bertuzzi
|
32
|
$5.5 million, final year of contract
|
|
Sacha Boisvert
|
21
|
Likely third year of entry-level contract
|
|
Ryan Greene
|
23
|
Likely first year of second contract
|
|
Roman Kantserov
|
23
|
Likely first year of entry-level contract
|
|
Nick Lardis
|
22
|
$896,666, third year of entry-level contract
|
|
Paul Ludwinski
|
23
|
First year of second contract
|
|
Oliver Moore
|
22
|
Likely first year of second contract
|
|
Frank Nazar
|
23
|
Second year of second contract
|
|
Samuel Savoie
|
23
|
First year of second contract
|
|
A.J. Spellacy
|
21
|
Likely second year of entry-level contract
|
|
Marek Vanacker
|
21
|
Likely second year of entry-level contract
|
|
Player
|
Age in 2027
|
Contract
|
|---|---|---|
|
Nolan Allan
|
24
|
Second year of second contract
|
|
Seth Jones
|
33
|
$9.5 million, sixth year of eight-year contract
|
|
Wyatt Kaiser
|
25
|
Likely first year of third contract
|
|
Kevin Korchinski
|
23
|
Likely second year of second contract
|
|
Artyom Levshunov
|
21
|
$975,000, likely third year of entry-level contract
|
|
Sam Rinzel
|
22
|
Likely first year of second contract
|
|
Alex Vlasic
|
26
|
$4.6 million, fourth year of six-year contract
|
|
Player
|
Age in 2027
|
Contract
|
|---|---|---|
|
Drew Commesso
|
25
|
Second year of second contract
|
|
Arvid Söderblom
|
28
|
Possible first year of fourth contract
|
2028-29 season
The Blackhawks might have some roster stability and a chance to be a Stanley Cup contender in 2028-29.
Their lineup will still be young, but it’ll be full of experienced players in their primes. Most of the lineup will have two or three seasons of NHL play behind it. Bedard will be in his sixth season. The defense could stick together for a few seasons.
Here are the likely players in the 2028-29 lineup with their ages at the start of the season and where their contracts are likely to stand:
|
Player
|
Age in 2028
|
Contract
|
|---|---|---|
|
2025 top-five pick
|
21
|
Possible second or third year of entry-level contract
|
|
Major UFA signing
|
N/A
|
Third or fourth year of contract
|
|
Connor Bedard
|
23
|
Likely third year of second contract
|
|
Sacha Boisvert
|
22
|
Likely first year of second contract
|
|
Ryan Greene
|
24
|
Likely second year of second contract
|
|
Roman Kantserov
|
24
|
Likely first year of second contract
|
|
Nick Lardis
|
23
|
First year of second contract
|
|
Paul Ludwinski
|
24
|
Likely second year of second contract
|
|
Oliver Moore
|
23
|
Likely second year of second contract
|
|
Frank Nazar
|
24
|
Likely third year of second contract
|
|
Samuel Savoie
|
24
|
Likely second year of second contract
|
|
A.J. Spellacy
|
22
|
Likely third year of entry-level contract
|
|
Marek Vanacker
|
22
|
Likely third year of entry-level contract
|
|
Player
|
Age in 2028
|
Contract
|
|---|---|---|
|
Seth Jones
|
34
|
$9.5 million, seventh year of eight-year contract
|
|
Wyatt Kaiser
|
26
|
Likely second year of third contract
|
|
Kevin Korchinski
|
24
|
Likely third year of second contract
|
|
Artyom Levshunov
|
22
|
Likely first year of second contract
|
|
Sam Rinzel
|
24
|
Likely second year of second contract
|
|
Alex Vlasic
|
27
|
$4.6 million, fifth year of six-year contract
|
|
Player
|
Age in 2028
|
Contract
|
|---|---|---|
|
Drew Commesso
|
26
|
Possible first year of third contract
|
|
Arvid Söderblom
|
29
|
Possible second year of fourth contract
|
2029-2030 season
If Davidson’s plan works, the Blackhawks should be a consistent Stanley Cup contender at this point.
The cap could be crunching the Blackhawks at this point, too. Nearly everyone on this roster will be beyond his entry-level contract. It’s going to get more important as time goes on for Davidson to get the numbers right, move on from players when needed and bring in a few more prospects.
Here are the likely players in the 2029-30 lineup with their ages at the start of the season and where their contracts are likely to stand:
|
Player
|
Age in 2029
|
Contract
|
|---|---|---|
|
2025 top-five pick
|
22
|
Possible first year of second contract
|
|
2025 other first-round pick
|
22
|
Possible third year of entry-level contract
|
|
2026 first-round pick
|
21
|
Possible second year of entry-level contract
|
|
Major UFA signing
|
N/A
|
Fourth or fifth year of contract
|
|
Connor Bedard
|
24
|
Likely fourth year of second contract
|
|
Sacha Boisvert
|
23
|
Likely second year of second contract
|
|
Ryan Greene
|
25
|
Likely first year of third contract
|
|
Roman Kantserov
|
25
|
Likely second year of second contract
|
|
Nick Lardis
|
24
|
Likely second year of second contract
|
|
Oliver Moore
|
24
|
Likely third year of second contract
|
|
Frank Nazar
|
25
|
Likely fourth year of second contract
|
|
A.J. Spellacy
|
23
|
Likely first year of second contract
|
|
Marek Vanacker
|
23
|
Likely first year of second contract
|
|
Player
|
Age in 2029
|
Contract
|
|---|---|---|
|
Seth Jones
|
35
|
$9.5 million, final year of contract
|
|
Wyatt Kaiser
|
27
|
Likely third year of third contract
|
|
Kevin Korchinski
|
25
|
Likely fourth year of second contract
|
|
Artyom Levshunov
|
23
|
Likely second year of second contract
|
|
Sam Rinzel
|
25
|
Likely third year of second contract
|
|
Alex Vlasic
|
28
|
$4.6 million, final year of contract
|
|
Player
|
Age in 2029
|
Contract
|
|---|---|---|
|
Drew Commesso
|
27
|
Possible second year of third contract
|
|
Adam Gajan
|
25
|
Possible first year of second contract
|
(Photos of Connor Bedard and Artyom Levshunov: Steph Chambers / Getty Images and Nathan Vestal / Rockford IceHogs)
