If this Kraken forward hits the free-agent market during the offseason, the Blackhawks should consider taking a flier on him.
The Chicago Blackhawks will be a team to keep an eye on during the 2026 NHL offseason. One of their goals during the offseason should be to boost their forward group.
When looking at this year's pending unrestricted free agents (UFA), one player who could be an interesting player for the Blackhawks to take a chance on if he hits the market is Seattle Kraken forward Eeli Tolvanen.
Tolvanen is a former first-round pick who will be turning 27 years old in April. With this, he will be on the right side of 30 for multiple more years and could be a good fit on a Blackhawks team on the rise.
If the Blackhawks signed Tolvanen, he would provide them with another solid option to work with in their top nine. This is because the 6-foot forward not only contributes offensively but also plays a heavy game.
In 68 games this season with the Kraken, Tolvanen has recorded 12 goals, 23 assists, 35 points, and 170 hits. This is after he scored a career high 23 goals and recorded 35 points in 81 games for Seattle in 2024-25. He also had over 200 hits in his two previous seasons and a career-high 41 points in 2023-24.
Ultimately, with the Blackhawks needing some forward help, Tolvanen could be an interesting player for them to take a chance on if he becomes a free agent. At a minimum, he would boost their third line, but he could move up the lineup if needed due to his versatility.