Blackhawks could go for solid defenseman
Editor's note: This is the last of a three-part series on the future of the Chicago Blackhawks.
When the calendar turned to July 1 last summer, the Blackhawks were one of the most aggressive teams in the free agent market.
They threw more than $56 million at defenseman Brian Campbell, then stunned everyone by signing goalie Cristobal Huet to a four-year deal worth another $22.54 million.
Don't expect the Hawks to be a major player again this summer, although that doesn't mean they won't be shopping for another piece to their Stanley Cup puzzle, perhaps a stay-at-home defensive-minded defenseman.
General manager Dale Tallon's main focus is getting his own free agents signed, starting with winger Martin Havlat and center Sammy Pahlsson, both of whom would be unrestricted on July 1.
Tallon also has plenty of work to do re-signing restricted free agents Dave Bolland, Kris Versteeg, Cam Barker, Ben Eager and Troy Brouwer.
The Hawks would like to think they have reached the point where they don't need to build a team through free agency. That's what the Detroit Red Wings do - they draft well, develop players and fill in a key piece or two each summer through free agency, such as the signing of Brian Rafalski in 2007 and Marian Hossa last summer.
"Our ultimate goal is to develop a team where we don't need free agency," Tallon said. "We want to develop our own. We want to build our own. That's the key. Ultimately in this cap system you try to have solid entry-level players in your lineup at all times, and keep that rotation going."
The top free agents available this summer probably aren't coming to Chicago. That list includes Hossa, Vancouver forwards Daniel and Henrik Sedin, Florida defenseman Jay Bouwmeester, Minnesota winger Marian Gaborik, and Anaheim defenseman Scott Niedermayer.
However, Tallon's strategy could change if Havlat can't be re-signed in the next few weeks.
Would Tallon then inquire about Hossa or Gaborik? Calgary winger Mike Cammalleri, a 39-goal scorer, is also available as an unrestricted free agent, and he could be a cheaper alternative to Havlat.
Cammalleri was paid $3.3 million last season and is said to want to play in a major market back in the United States.
Assuming the Hawks agree on new contracts with Havlat and Pahlsson, Tallon's free agent interest might be focused strictly on defense. If that's the case, these unrestricted free agents could be on the Hawks' radar.
• Mike Komisarek: Likely a long shot considering what he might command in salary and the fact the Hawks already have $7.1 million committed to Campbell for the next seven years and need to worry about locking up Duncan Keith long term.
But the punishing Komisarek is the kind of physical defensive defenseman the Hawks need.
• Mattias Ohlund: How good would this dependable veteran two-way defenseman look on the Hawks' blue line? But consider him another long shot with a big salary demand.
• Francois Beauchemin: He played big minutes for the Ducks and is a physical presence. He would be an ideal fit with Keith, Campbell, Barker, Brent Seabrook and Niklas Hjalmarsson.
• Johnny Oduya: He is plus-48 over the past two seasons with the Devils. Oduya is on the small side, but he's physical enough and makes smart plays.
• Adam Pardy: He was one of those Calgary defensemen running around taking dumb penalties in the playoffs against the Hawks, but he is big (6-feet-4, 211 pounds), physical, has a ton of upside, and made only $500,000 last season.