Chicago Blackhawks: 3 Nashville Predators free agents to snatch

The Chicago Blackhawks could use a veteran presence like Brad Richardson next year.

Brad Richardson has had a really nice NHL career so far. He was a fifth-round pick in the 2003 NHL Draft. It was the greatest draft in the history of the NHL because of how the first round went but it also deserves credit for how the later rounds went. The fact that fifth-round picks like Richardson are able to play 825 career games and counting speaks volumes. He was a bottom-six forward for most of it but he was obviously effective. He does have a Stanley Cup ring after all.

He spent time with the Colorado Avalanche, Los Angeles Kings, Vancouver Canucks, and Arizona Coyotes before making his way to the Nashville Predators. in 2021. He wasn’t the most effective player for them but he did suit up for 17 games. He scored one goal and three assists for four points in those 17 assists.

Adding a veteran player like that ahead of his age-36 season would be wise for the Hawks. He isn’t breaking the bank to sign but he also isn’t providing much offense. What he will do, however, is prove solid leadership and play the game the right way. He is a guy you can trust out there with a lead no matter what.

It isn’t a sure thing that the Hawks are going to add in free agency this summer but they are certainly going to try and change things up. If they do add in free agency, this Predators team obviously has some players that can help out. For better or worse, as mentioned before, this team might still believe they have a chance to compete in the very difficult Central Division.