On Wednesday’s episode of “Frankly Hockey,” Frank Seravalli said the Blackhawks have at least kicked the tires internally on making a run at 36-year-old right-handed defenseman John Carlson, who is a UFA. Seravalli wonders if there’s a fit, however, both for the team and player. I don’t know that there is one.
But the mention of a player like John Carlson brings me back to the principle question of the summer: how do the Blackhawks define the “fit” they’re looking for if/when they call agents about UFAs — especially on the blue line. Assuming the Blackhawks bring back at least one of Kevin Korchinski and Ethan Del Mastro (if not both), they’ll have seven home-grown defensemen on the NHL roster. Yeah, last year didn’t show the trajectory anyone wanted, but the group is still incredibly young.
Are the Blackhawks looking for a mentor to come in and help the young guys thru the tough spots (the way Connor Murphy did over the past couple years)? Or are the Blackhawks looking for a steady contributor on the back end who will elevate the entire group’s performance because of what he brings to the table? Is it a hybrid of the two?
The other unpopular option is the Blackhawks look at a fairly soft free agent group on the blue line and actually entertain including one of their young defensemen in a trade package. As a reminder: both Louis Crevier and Wyatt Kaiser only got two-year commitments last summer at incredibly low (now “team-friendly”) cap hits ($1.7M for Kaiser, $900k for Crevier). They both out-performed their salaries last year, but will both hit RFA again in 12 months. Could the Blackhawks look to improve the roster as a whole thru a trade that might require including one of them?
And how does the Blackhawks’ internal draft board consider the potentially elite defensemen at the top of this year’s draft board as potential replacements for the guys on the NHL roster now — or soon? All of that comes into play. It’s going to be interesting to watch.
I’ve noted that Craig Button has a very unique perspective on prospects that is reflected in his draft rankings each year. So, when he dropped his final rankings for the 2026 NHL Draft on Tuesday, I had to check them out. Respectfully, Liam Ruck in the top ten is… a choice.With just over a week to go until the 2026 #NHLDraft in Buffalo, TSN Director of Scouting Craig Button reveals his final rankings of the season. MORE: t.co/vmpdG3xnui pic.twitter.com/4p2W1jafEv
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) June 17, 2026 Since Blackhawks social media apparently felt the need to crash out after the San Jose Sharks acquired defenseman Michael Kesselring yesterday… I’ll be perfectly clear: the Blackhawks didn’t need to wander into that end of the pool on June 17. It’s a nice add for the Sharks. It isn’t changing the trajectory of their roster. He’s a third-pair guy. Furthermore, if Kyle Davidson had traded the equivalent of a mid-2nd round pick for a pending RFA third-pair defenseman who appeared in only 34 games last year because of injury, the same Blackhawks fans would be lined up with their pitchforks and torches calling for his job.Michael Kesselring, acquired by SJ, is a two-way right defenceman with long reach and great wheels. His track record suggests he could be a puck-carrying top four defenceman, although he did not manage to carve out that role in BUF. Not overly physical but loves taking penalties. pic.twitter.com/OO4HCRCz8Y
— JFresh (@JFreshHockey) June 17, 2026 The Nashville Predators hired Jamie Langenbrunner as a special assistant to the General Manager. The Toronto Maple Leafs hired Jim Hiller as their new head coach. It was… not universally received well.Zing! pic.twitter.com/lhD2UbYJ3H
— Aaron Portzline (@Aportzline) June 18, 2026 Finally, a couple notes from the Western Conference champs. The Vegas Golden Knights announced Ryan Craig will serve as their new head coach. Vegas general manager Kelly McCrimmon also commented on some of the significant injuries his team was dealing with in the Stanley Cup Final. But this comment raised a few eyebrows…Kelly McCrimmon tells media at his season ending @GoldenKnights availability that he has already granted a team permission to speak with Bruce Cassidy and he will deal with it on a case by case basis going forward.
— gary lawless (@garylawless) June 17, 2026BLEACHER NATION: Go Ad Free | Subscribe to the BN Newsletter
Hence then, the article about john carlson kesselring hiller to toronto button s draft rankings and other blackhawks bullets was published today ( ) and is available on Bleacher Nation ( Middle East ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( John Carlson? Kesselring, Hiller to Toronto, Button’s Draft Rankings, and Other Blackhawks Bullets )
Also on site :
- Harry Kane, Jordan Pickford and Jude Bellingham's glamorous WAGs in stands for England's World Cup win
- LVL Zero Spotlight: India’s Emerging Game Studios Are Building Some of Its Biggest Creative Ambitions
- IPL 2027 to be preponed due to weather concerns but no extra matches next season, says BCCI secretary