The Chicago Blackhawks are undergoing a youth movement, with only a few veteran forwards remaining as the 2025-26 season concludes. GM Kyle Davidson faces critical decisions regarding which veterans will stay to support the team's push for postseason contention in 2026-27.
Key points
Blackhawks are undergoing a youth movement.
Few veterans remain on the roster.
GM Kyle Davidson must decide on veteran contracts.
Team aims for postseason contention in 2026-27.
Matt Grzelcyk is the lone veteran defenseman needing a contract.
With the youth movement rapidly taking over the entire Chicago Blackhawksā roster as the 2025-26 campaign carried on, only a few veterans remained in the locker room by seasonās end.
The Blackhawks are expected to be one of the youngest teams in the NHL once again in 2026-27, and those few veterans who remain will be leaned on significantly to help the team take a step towards postseason contention.
As for precisely which veteran players will still be around, thatās something GM Kyle Davidson and the team need to figure out this summer. Itās much more of a pressing question in the forward group than on defense, with Matt Grzelcyk being the lone elder on the back end in need of a new contract to return next season.
Up front, Tyler Bertuzzi still has two years left on his current deal, and the Blackhawks should feel comfortable with that based on his performance in 2025-26. Ryan Donato also had a fine first year under his new contract, considering the role he played in the bottom six.
Outside of Bertuzzi and Donato, however, there wasnāt much to be pleased about from the veteran players who are set to return. Teuvo Teravainen and Andre Burakovsky didnāt provide Connor Bedard and Frank Nazar with nearly enough consistent support in the top six, leaving some uncertainty about their respective futures. Both are under contract for one more season, and the Blackhawks might keep them around to help reach the salary cap floor, but there are no guarantees.
Q&A
Which veteran forwards are remaining with the Blackhawks for the 2026-27 season?
The article highlights that only a few veteran forwards will remain, but specific names are not mentioned.
What is the Blackhawks' strategy for the 2026-27 NHL season?
The Blackhawks plan to rely on their remaining veterans to guide the young roster as they aim for postseason contention.
Who is the lone veteran defenseman needing a new contract for the Blackhawks?
Matt Grzelcyk is the only veteran defenseman mentioned who requires a new contract for the upcoming season.
How is the youth movement affecting the Blackhawks' roster decisions?
The youth movement is leading to a significant reduction in veteran presence, prompting GM Kyle Davidson to make crucial decisions about the forward group.
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With pressure mounting for the franchise to become relevant again, the Blackhawks canāt afford such woeful play from key pieces of the team moving forward. In past offseasons, it would have been an easy decision for the front office to have both Teravainen and Burakovsky return. But now that there are serious stakes ahead? Making the correct decision becomes much more crucial.
Hereās Part 3 of Chicago Hockey Nowās report card grades for the 2025-26 Blackhawks, with seven veteran forwards to finish the series. Preseason expectations were once again considered for each player.
Tyler Bertuzzi
Bertuzzi had a much-improved second season in Chicago, scoring a career-high and team-leading 32 goals in 79 games. His 58 points were second only to Connor Bedard and marked the second-most heās recorded in nine NHL campaigns. He also led the Blackhawks with 11 power-play tallies, with most being a result of his sharp net-front skills.
Not only was Bertuzzi far more reliable offensively in 2025-26, but he also added an extra gear to his game away from the puck. He was far more consistent in all three zones and very effective in board battles and scrums. Those aspects certainly didnāt go unnoticed by the coaching staff or his teammates, as he wore an āAā during the home stretch after Nick Foligno, Jason Dickinson, and Connor Murphy were traded at the deadline.
Bertuzzi isnāt the most vocal player in the locker room, but how he goes about his business on the ice does all the talking required. With his new non-stop motor and intensity on the forecheck/backcheck, heās a great example for the young Blackhawks who are learning what it takes to succeed at the highest level.
There are still two years left on Bertuzziās current deal, and it will be fascinating to see if he keeps up this level of play before his contract expires in 2028. Heās established himself as a legitimate top-six winger for the time being, but heāll have higher expectations coming into next season. For the Blackhawks to take the next step as a squad, Bertuzzi must be an effective two-way player again in 2026-27.
Despite the Blackhawks finishing as the second-worst team in hockey in two consecutive seasons, Ilya Mikheyev has managed to finish each year with a positive plus-minus rating. As a team, the Hawks had a minus-62 goal differential in 2025-26, but Mikheyev, even with a defensive-minded role, finished with a plus-two rating in 79 games. Impressive stuff from the 31-year-old veteran.
Mikheyev was a driving factor behind the Blackhawks having one of the best penalty-kill units in the NHL this season, as his size and speed combination caused havoc when his team was shorthanded. Heās a true pest to play against, frequently forcing opposing puck carriers into turnovers with his suffocating pressure. Mikheyev also always seems to play with an active stick and is in the proper spots defensively.
Offensively, Mikheyev didnāt quite match the 20 goals he potted in his first year with the Blackhawks, but he still finished third on the team with 18. He was also fourth with 36 points, which was more than both Andre Burakovsky and Teuvo Teravainen, who saw larger opportunities in top-six roles. Mikeheyev spent most of the season on the third line and was the more effective offensive player.
Set to become an unrestricted free agent this summer, GM Kyle Davidson has made his desire to keep Mikheyev around very clear. Whether the two sides can reach an agreement remains to be determined, but losing Mikheyev would be a major gut punch for the Blackhawks. Heās an exquisite depth piece that goes about his business the right way. Mikheyev hasnāt done much winning in Chicago, but he plays a winning style of hockey. Keeping him around feels like a must for Davidson.
Grade: A-
Teuvo Teravainen
While Bertuzzi and Mikheyev found individual success as veterans this year, the same cannot be said for Teravainen. His 35 points tied the fewest heās ever recorded in a full NHL season, with the last time coming way back in the 2015-16 campaign, his first as a pro. Only 15 of his 35 points came at even strength, which is pretty horrendous, considering he appeared in 75 games.
Among all Blackhawks skaters who played at least 50 games, Teravainen had the worst goals-for percentage, as he was on the ice for 24 goals for to 44 goals against at even strength (35.29%). The playmaking skills he brought to the table in 2024-25 werenāt apparent for most of the season, with his 21 assists being the fewest of his career.
The only reason Teravainen finished fifth on the Blackhawks in points was because of his ice time and role. Despite the lack of production, Teravainen averaged nearly 18 minutes per game and skated on the teamās top power-play unit. He was mediocre as a puck-mover on the man advantage but did enough to scrap together 19 power-play points, totaling a majority of his production for the year.
Teravainen is still on the books for one more season, and it very well could be his last with the Blackhawks, barring a strong bounceback in 2026-27. His role could also be much different next year, given the influx of young players arriving to the pro scene.
Grade: D
Andre Burakovsky
It was a true tale of two halves for Burakovsky in his first season with the Blackhawks. Through his first 38 games with the team, he recorded 10 goals and 19 assists for 29 points and looked solid as Bedardās linemate. But over his final 37 appearances, he was by far the worst player on the team, scoring only one goal and adding just three assists for four points. He also had a minus-23 rating during that stretch.
Burakovskyās second half is even more putrid, considering he was kept on the top line with Bedard throughout his struggles, up until the final few weeks of the season. His drastic dip in production certainly didnāt help Bedard pick up where he left off before getting injured, when he was among the leagueās leading point scorers. Burakovskyās brutal decision-making and frequent giveaways only made things more difficult for Bedard.
There is one year remaining on Burakovskyās current deal, but because of his horrendous finish to 2025-26, thereās a chance he gets bought out over the summer. Burakovsky also could get buried in Rockford next season, unless he shows signs of life during training camp and the preseason. If the Blackhawks were to move on from him, no one would blame them. Burakovsky was given all the chances in the world to turn things around, but he simply couldnāt.
Grade: D
Ryan Donato
Burakovskyās addition last offseason meant that Donato wouldnāt be playing alongside Bedard on the first line, as he did throughout the 2024-25 season, producing career-highs across the board in the process.
With that being the case, it was always going to be nearly impossible for Donato to replicate his 30-goal, 60-point campaign. He played almost exclusively in the bottom six throughout the year and still finished with a respectable 15 goals and 15 assists for 30 points. Itās the fourth time over the last five seasons where Donato has finished between 27-31 points, so he was right on his career baseline.
From an analytics perspective, Donato was one of the teamās better two-way players, finishing third in Corsi percentage among all skaters with at least 50 games played. At even strength, the Blackhawks were outscored 48-36 with Donato on the ice, which is respectable considering his third-line checking role.
The 2025-26 season was the first of Donatoās new four-year, $16 million ($4 million AAV) extension, and he lived up to the expectations of that contract. He was a trusted defensive player and further established himself as a leader in the locker room. If he can crack 20 goals in 2026-27, that would go a long way in helping the Blackhawks take a step in the right direction as a team.
After being acquired from the Edmonton Oilers at the deadline, Andrew Mangiapane only appeared in 10 games with the Blackhawks due to injury. When he did suit up, he proved to be a willing participant in post-whistle skirmishes and never shied away from going to the dirty areas, which were lacking in the forward group. That was likely well-appreciated within the locker room.
Mangiapane played strictly in the Hawksā bottom six, producing one goal and one assist for two points in his 10 appearances. There wasnāt much to write home about with his offensive play, but he also wasnāt put in a position to shine in that area. He averaged just 11:54 of ice time.
The Blackhawks were likely hoping to learn more about Mangiapane before having to decide on his future this summer. Heās still under contract for one more year at $3.6 million, which he isnāt worth, but that figure could help the team reach the salary cap floor. Like Burakovsky, Mangiapane could also get bought out in the offseason, or he could be placed on waivers and assigned to Rockford. Only time will tell, but Mangiapane looked decent in his short stint. That could earn him a chance to make the team in the fall.
Sam Lafferty suited up in just 29 games for the Blackhawks this season, as he was mostly utilized as the teamās 13th forward. When he did draw into the lineup, it was down on the fourth line, except for his final appearance, which oddly came as a defenseman. He totaled one goal and one assist with a minus-two rating for the year.
Lafferty had respectable analytics for a fourth-liner, with a 47.34 Corsi percentage while being on the ice for seven goals for to nine against at even strength. Heās a decent defensive player and can be utilized at both center and wing. Offensively, his speed gifts him some scoring opportunities, but he still lacks the finishing touch. Pretty much the story of his career.
Set to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1, Lafferty will likely hit the open market in search of a spot where he can receive more playing time. That might be easier said than done at 31 years old, but itās clear he doesnāt have a role with the Blackhawks moving forward.
