Chicago Blackhawks
· 2026-06-30
The Chicago Blackhawks extended qualifying offers to four restricted free agents, including forward Connor Bedard, on Monday.
The move allows the Hawks to retain their rights past the expirations of their entry-level contracts on Wednesday.
The Blackhawks gave qualifying offers to defensemen Kevin Korchinski and Ethan Del Mastro, and goalie Drew Commesso, in addition to Bedard.
These players will now have the opportunity to negotiate new contracts with the team.
The Hawks had a 29-39 record and were 15th in the Western Conference as of the end of the season.
Contract negotiations between the Hawks and Bedard's agents have recently picked up, with the two sides exchanging desired numbers.
Bedard's new contract is likely to have an annual salary-cap hit in the $13-16 million range.
Korchinski, Del Mastro, and Commesso are likely to receive one- or two-year contracts with low salary-cap hits.
These contracts will give them the opportunity to establish themselves as NHL players without long-term commitments.
Korchinski has been training in Chicago over the summer to prepare for the upcoming season.
The only two Hawks restricted free agents not given qualifying offers were AHL defensemen Dmitri Kuzmin and Ryan Mast.
Kuzmin is rumored to be signing with the Kontinental Hockey League.
Among the players receiving qualifying offers, only Commesso has arbitration rights.
The Hawks' decision to extend qualifying offers to these four players will help shape their roster for the upcoming season.
As the team looks to improve on their 29-39 record, these contracts will be important in determining their success.
The Hawks are currently on a W1 streak, and their standing in the Western Conference will depend on their performance in the upcoming season.