Scott Powers of The Athletic: (mailbag) Think that GM Stan Bowman will eventually make a trade at some point to take advantage of the LTIR cap space (Marian Hossa). A top-nine center might be one area they might consider, with a top-four defenseman another option.
Duncan Keith, Brent Seabrook, Connor Murphy and Gustav Forsling are the defenseman the Blackhawks are likely to keep going forward. Jan Rutta, Cody Franson, and Michal Kempny are pending free agents. They could look to re-sign Rutta to an extension.