Chicago Blackhawks, Brandon Saad’s Futures

Nobody in the Chicago Blackhawks organization is thinking about anything other than Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final. But just like a lot of others out there, I am wondering about what the team will look like next year and if Brandon Saad will be a member of next year’s squad.

(We’ve covered this story a bit already, Chicago Blackhawks: Brandon Saad, Restricted Free Agency, but things are starting to get more interesting with third parties coming into play).

The better he plays, the bigger the conundrum (for the Blackhawks that is). Saad has arguably been the best player for the Blackhawks in the Finals. OK, I’ll modify that statement a bit because Duncan Keith has been a tour de force. So I will say that Saad has been the Blackhawks’ best offensive player during the Finals.

He has come up with timely goals, including Game 4’s game winner, and has posed a threat every time he has stepped on the ice. He’s got tremendous speed and skill, and is only 22 years old. No, that wasn’t a typo, the powerful forward nicknamed “Man-child” was born in the ‘90s.

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Saad is at a prime age and is only going to develop into a better hockey player as the years go on. This is where things get a little tricky for the Hawks. Better players equate to more money. Money is tight for the Hawks and will continue to be as their two top players, Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews, are locked in for the next eight years, each contract worth $84 million. The team also has Marian Hossa, Keith, Niklas Hjalmarsson and Corey Crawford locked up for the long term.

In recent days, reports have come out stating that the Pittsburgh Penguins would be interested in Saad and may be willing to offer a contract worth around $6 million a year to get him. This puts pressure on the Hawks and can completely change the makeup of the team come next season.

From ESPN’s Pierre LeBrun:

"A source suggested to me Tuesday that the Pittsburgh Penguins are a team to watch as far as having interest in Saad. The Penguins would love to make a splash by grabbing the Pittsburgh native, especially given their need for a top-six scoring winger.The Penguins could make a trade offer or an issue an offer sheet. I think veteran general manager Jim Rutherford will explore what it takes on the Saad front."

Pittsburgh is his hometown and he has so many memories of watching Mario Lemieux and Jaromir Jagr play as a young kid. Maybe nostalgia will get the best of him. But I also expect some other teams to start pooling their money to go after him. Come on, who wouldn’t have an interest in the kid with what he is able to do.

"“To make room for Saad’s hefty raise from $845,000 to as much as $6 million, the Hawks would have to unload more veterans. Bryan Bickell, who makes $4.5 million, becomes an easy target. Kris Versteeg, on the books for $2.35 million, could be expendable too.”— David Haugh Chicago Tribune"

Haugh also mentioned the high possibility of trading Patrick Sharp. Sorry, Sharpie looks like the Blackhawks believe in “age before beauty,” expect in this instance it is youth that takes precedence.

But how much is too much to give up for one player?

That’s really hard to determine. In every large contract there is always a large risk. Management has no idea what the future holds for Saad or any other player for that matter. Will Saad continue to grow and become one of the NHL’s elite or will he fizzle out? Will he have a career-ending injury (knock on wood, I don’t wish that on him) or be plagued by minor injuries that keep him sidelined for long periods? Or will he surpass everyone’s expectations and become one of the most dominating forwards in the history of the League?

The problem is nobody knows what the future holds, but the Blackhawks sure seem like they want Saad a part of its future.

"“After three NHL seasons, Saad quickly has evolved into one of those rare players who changes the game more than the game changes him. At 6-foot-1 and 207 pounds, he possesses the ideal combination of size, speed and skill to dominate today’s NHL. The Hawks rely on Saad on the top line and on the penalty-kill unit to do the dirty work or make the fancy play.” — David Haugh Chicago Tribune"

So, if I were general manager Stan Bowman, I would much rather ask for forgiveness then live with regret. And what I mean by that is I would rather take the heat for Saad not working out as a member of the Blackhawks than take the heat for watching him excel as a member of another team. No question moving forward the Blackhawks money situation will be tight, but there is some wiggle room and some expendable players, which were mentioned above, that can be moved to accommodate Saad.

Saad’s won a Cup in Chicago, is in the midst of another shot at it, and has become a fan favorite. Things have been going well for him and I am sure he is inclined to stay. The Blackhawks will just have to make him an offer he can’t refuse.

So, if Saad does in fact stay that could mean the end of the road for Blackhawks’ Sharp, Bickell, and/or Versteeg, and if for some reason the front office goes insane, Hossa (really, really, really doubtful) and Brent Seabrook (again, like less than a 1 percent chance).

I have a feeling the Blackhawks, with the exception of its core, are going to look pretty different next season. But, hey, I never said different was a bad thing.

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