Could a New York Islanders veteran help kickstart the Chicago Blackhawks rebuild?

The Chicago Blackhawks just got a gift of a lifetime, winning the 2023 NHL Draft Lottery Monday night, which now gives them the right to select a generational talent in Connor Bedard.

The Blackhawks tanked to the definition, fielding anything but a competitive squad, ending their season as the third-worst team in the NHL.

With Patrick Kane out and Jonathan Toews on his way out, general manager Kyle Davidson needs to address his personnel, as he needs a strong leadership group to help Bedard and a team with 11 players 25 and under grow.

Paging the New York Islanders, and here's why. 

The Blackhawks need financial help as they sit $5.8 million away from reaching the salary cap floor of $61.7 million, with just 17 players under contract.

The Blackhawks will likely re-sign as many of their unrestricted free agents as possible and their five restricted free agents. 

Unlike an Arizona Coyotes franchise, an Original Six team like Chicago shouldn't need to take the route of taking on undesirable contracts. 

Even with Bedard and plenty of cap space ($37.594 million), convincing star free agents to join a team where winning isn't the priority will be challenging.

It seems rather likely that the Islanders will be looking for a Josh Bailey suitor, given how this season went, as he fell out of favor with head coach Lane Lambert. 

Bailey has one year remaining on his contract with a salary-cap hit of $5 million, money the Islanders don't want on their books but money the Blackhawks certainly could use. 

Now, the Islanders could buy Bailey out this summer, saving them $2.33 million in 2023-24, but it would carry a cap penalty of $1.16 million heading into 2024-25, the season in which the Islanders hope to have Ilya Sorokin starting his long-term extension.

Or they could trade him to Chicago, including a second-rounder, which was the ask last summer for Bailey, per a league source. 

With just one year left on his deal, compared to two last summer, maybe it takes less than a second. 

"If I'm going to be sitting in the stands a lot, that is not something I want to do," Bailey said during his end-of-the-season media session.

READ MORE: Bailey Opens Up About Tough Season, Future With Islanders Anything But Certain

One would think he would get more playing time in Chicago than on Long Island.

But there are more reasons besides the finances as to why the Blackhawks could be interested in the 33-year-old.  

The Blackhawks organization is still dealing with the fallout from their cover-up of the Kyle Beach sexual assault scandal that came to public light in 2021.  

Despite the many firings after a slew of terrible decisions and the eventual destruction of a once elite squad, the organization is far from getting above that dark cloud.

While Bedard will undoubtedly help the franchise move forward from disaster, there needs to be veteran support in place. 

Although there may have been a rift between Lambert and Bailey, the veteran forward has played under Lou Lamoriello for the last five years and has likely learned even more about what it means to be a professional.

He's learned the importance of leadership in a locker room. Although the room has been predominantly veteran players throughout his tenure, he's helped many young players.

"He's one of my best friends," 25-year-old Mathew Barzal said following the season. "I really looked up to him since I came in here.

"He's a great mentor for guy like me and younger guys, and yeah, he's been awesome to me ever since day one."

This is not to say that Bailey should be named the 35th captain in Blackhawks history, but leadership is critical for any team trying to rebuild the right way. 

Bailey, a former ninth-overall pick, was rushed into NHL action well before he was ready, a decision that altered his career path.

It's also something that stayed with him for his entire career. 

Although Bedard's expectations aren't even comparable, there is something to be said for someone who has experienced that situation. 

As mentioned, the Blackhawks have tons of young talent, and Bailey, who has played over 1,000 games in the NHL and has served as an alternate captain for New York, can help provide strong leadership. 

Yes, there are leaders out there that will provide more on-ice production than Bailey, who is coming off a season where he potted just eight goals. 

But, again, we live in a salary-cap world, and Josh Bailey can certainly help out the Chicago Blackhawks in more ways than one, which in part, benefits the New York Islanders.