Yes, the Blackhawks intend to get better around Connor Bedard starting next season.

Blackhawks coach Luke Richardson hinted early on Monday afternoon that his team might not be finished signing free agents after Chicago's total already had reached seven on the opening day of the signing period.

"Right now I'm just kind of happy where we're going and where the lineup is starting to fill out," Richardson said. "But we're not done yet. So we'll have to see where we finish."

Chicago's third-year coach wasn't kidding.

The Blackhawks agreed with 34-year-old minutes-eating defenseman T.J. Brodie on a two-year contract that pays $3.75 million per season later in the day. 

The Blackhawks signed eight UFAs on Monday as general manager Kyle Davidson tried to make good on a promise to improve his team from a 31st place finish last season. Chicago went 23-53-6 and set a franchise record for losses.

Brodie slipped late in the 2023-24 season with the Toronto Maple Leafs and was a healthy scratch for the first time in his career. Still, he was second on the Leafs in ice time per game, averaging 21:43 through 78 contests and trailing only fellow defenseman Morgan Rielly. Brodie led Toronto with 159 blocked shots.

The veteran D-man is an upgrade from the likes of Jarred Tinordi and Jaycob Megna — and what Richardson and his hockey department bosses were looking for to make Chicago harder to play against, shift after shift. See Richardson in the following video.

Support For Bedard And Other Youngster

Connor Bedard will still be the undisputed star of the show in Chicago, but the 2024 Calder Trophy winner will have a drastically improved and experienced supporting cast next season.

Here's who's coming to the Windy City's Original Six team:

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And finally (possibly..?) Brodie who posted one goal and 25 assists and was a plus-17 in his 14th NHL season.

He was a healthy scratch for the first time as a Maple Leaf in March, then appeared in just one of seven playoff games in Toronto's opening round loss to Boston.