Much of the recent success of the Chicago Blackhawks should be attributed to good drafting, excellent player development, and smart trades. The other small percentage of the overall recipe for the Hawks’ current Golden Age is complimenting the home-grown players with a few timely and effective free agent signings.
A team can’t be built on free agents alone. In fact, a team shouldn’t have a whole lot of free agent signees on it’s roster. Teams with lots of brought in free agents tend to have a hard time developing their own talent and if they are successful at all, it’s in short bursts followed by long stretches of unsuccessful hockey.