Chicago Blackhawks: Three free agent goalies to consider
Jacob Markstrom. 25. player. 104. . G. Vancouver Canucks
This one, out of the three on the list, would make the most sense. Jacob Markstrom is going to get the most money out of them all so that might make it difficult but he would be a great addition. He is probably going to be out of Vancouver as an RFA and any team that wants him could get a crack at him. It would be really cool to see the Hawks bring him in to try and close out the prime of Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane.
Markstrom was one of the best goalies in the NHL bubble that existed in the “return to play” following the COVID-19 pause. He helped Vancouver beat the Minnesota Wild in the play-in round ahead of defeating the St. Louis Blues in the first round. They fell to the Vegas Golden Knights in the second round and that was likely the end of Markstrom’s Canucks career as Thatcher Demko started to see time too.
As they make that transition, Markstrom might be looking for a new home. He would be the Hawks’ number one without question and he would likely hang onto it for a while. In the 2019-20 regular season, he had a 23-16-4 record with four shutouts, a .918 save percentage, and a 2.75 goals-against average. Those awesome numbers saw him finish in fourth place for the Vezina Trophy as the NHL’s best goalie. If you’re the Hawks and have a chance to add that guy, you do it.
The Chicago Blackhawks could bring back an old name. light. Hot
The direction that Stan Bowman goes with their goalie this year will tell a lot about the direction of the team. If he is lying about his reason for Crawford leaving, they will try and win and add another goalie. If he isn’t, none of these guys are likely going to be options. It surely is going to be interesting to watch and it all starts today.