Blackhawks Head Coach To Fans; This Two Players Deserve Something Bigger

July 9, 2024 sportgists NHL 0

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - DECEMBER 05: Alex Vlasic #72, Seth Jones #4, Jason Dickinson #16 of the Chicago Blackhawks look on against the Nashville Predators during the first period at the United Center on December 05, 2023 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

Blackhawks Head Coach To Fans; This Two Players Deserve Something Bigger

No matter what Seth Jones does, it will never be enough to satisfy fans’ expectations based on his $9.5 million AAV. Despite him being paid like a Norris Trophy winner, Jones still plays well enough to be among the top five in ice time.

Jones’ inconsistency this season offensively definitely earned the scorn of the fanbase. For a while, it looked like Jones was going to take the year from scoring goals. He did finish with 31 points.

Previous management gave him that rich contract, the problem with it was the deal had too many years on it. That is why it will be an albatross around the organization’s neck through the rest of the decade. 10% of the team’s cap space will be tied up to a lower-tier top-pair defenseman.

Hopefully, the cap continues to rise so Jones’ deal will not be such a financial constraint on the team’s books. The only reason it is a constraint is it would be nice if that money was going to a player who can win a Norris or Hart Trophy.

Alex Vlasic, Tyler Johnson Returning for Blackhawks vs Jets | Yardbarker
Speaking of the Hart Trophy, the Hawks’ second-highest cap hit is Taylor Hall at $6 million. Hall won the trophy in 2018. He missed the majority of last season during his first year with the team because of a knee injury.

He should be fully healthy for the upcoming season and his return should help the team’s putrid offensive attack. The nice thing is the Hawks get some cap flexibility as this is his last year on his deal. If he comes back strong, he can help the offense and then hopefully be flipped for some younger assets at the deadline.

Alex Vlasic was signed to an extension at a $4.6 million AAV. It was the right call to commit a deal through the rest of the decade to a 23-year-old defenseman that the team developed.

He proved to be a very good defensive-focused defenseman. He just needs his offensive game to improve to turn into a defender worthy of the Norris Trophy.

If he gets there, he will be on a team-friendly deal through 2030. That is much like how those Stanley Cup-winning teams were able to do business with Duncan Keith on a below-market deal.

That is why the Blackhawks have good money tied up right now on their books. The team truly has one bad deal and even then, they are getting production out of it.