The Blackhawks may very well dip into free agency this summer to find the skilled veteran they're looking for in Matt Duchene.

After being bought out by the Nashville Predators last summer, Matt Duchene played like he was on a mission to prove them wrong. He signed a one-year contract with the Dallas Stars and has been great this season, but that may only last so long.

The Stars aren't going to have enough cap space to sign Duchene to what he could be worth after this season. The length of contract he's likely looking for may not fit either with many key Dallas players needing extensions within the next couple of years.

The Stars have loved Duchene's value at just $3 million AAV and he's helped them reached the Western Conference Final. But unless Duchene is willing to sign for less than he may be worth, he'll be testing free agency. If the Stars win the Stanley Cup, all the more reason for him to cash in as well.

The Chicago Blackhawks might be able to offer a couple of things to Duchene the Stars can't, like a higher salary and a couple more years. 

General manager Kyle Davidson may not want to go too long on a contract for any new player as it would interfere with what the rebuilding Blackhawks are growing. But three, even four years might be doable if the player is impactful and brings the veteran leadership and intangibles the Blackhawks want in an offseason addition.

The story sounds a little like what Nick Foligno did with the Blackhawks last season.

The 33-year-old Duchene can play either center or the wing. He has more than proven that he is a top-6 talent still as well. 

He produced 25 goals and 65 points in 80 regular season games in 2023-24. Plus he's very fast and would complement Connor Bedard, taking some attention off of his line each night. 

Duchene is currently serving as the top-line center for the Stars with Roope Hintz injured. He has two goals and six points in 13 playoff games with at least one more round to go.

Duchene's next contract might fall somewhere between his previous two of $8 million AAV and $3 million AAV. His veteran presence and two-way ability will add a good amount of value to the team. 

Not only might Chicago's power play be boosted, Jason Dickinson and Frank Nazar could play more-focused roles. If Dickinson can be line-matched against a top-6 line and play the shutdown role, it would free up one of Bedard or Duchene's lines to produce more easily.

The Blackhawks have cap space and are going to get someone similar to Duchene who the team doesn't have to commit to very long-term. This will help the young group grow and give Davidson cap space as Connor Bedard, Kevin Korchinski and others graduate from entry-level contracts to longer, bigger deals.

Duchene would bring leadership and much-needed scoring, and Chicago will start to see more winning.

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