Fans Turning on Blackhawks Management After Recent Player Update
This week will be one of the most pivotal in Blackhawks history. On Wednesday, they'll add generational talent Connor Bedard to the roster.
One Blackhawks fan favourite won't be around to play with the phenom, however, as recent news indicates the Hawks will let go of defenseman Caleb Jones and not give him a qualifying offer.
Jones Will Not Be Qualified
Caleb Jones is by no means a superstar, but he has carved out a role as a serviceable roster defenseman. The reason fans love him, however, is due to his brother Seth being one of the pillars of the Hawks team.
Having the two brothers playing together was one of the highlights of this 2022-23 tank team, and it feels pointless to seperate them.
This won't be the first time the Blackhawks let restricted free agents walk for nothing. Last season, they let Dylan Strome and Dominik Kubalik go.
Strome went on to put up 65 points in 81 games with the Washington Capitals and signed a 5-year, $25-million extension with the team. Kubalik put up 45 points with the Detroit Red Wings.
While the Blackhawks achieved their tanking goals, they certainly could have gotten assets for Strome and Kubalik, and they could definitely get something for Caleb Jones.
Letting him walk for nothing truly seems pointless, and fans have voiced their displeasure:
Makes little sense given 1) his low salary, 2) at 26 still young & projected to improve (especially with better players around him) 3) averaged 20m TOI, 4) Hawks NEED NHL calibre players!!!
There is a chance that the Chicago Blackhawks aren't going to qualify RFA defenseman Caleb Jones. In fact, it would be the same mistake as they did with Dylan Strome last year in our eyes. Caleb Jones is an underrated, good defensive defenseman who can play as 4D on the team.
While Connor Bedard will be great, they need a team to play around him!
| POLL | ||
JUIN 22 | 150 ANSWERS Fans Turning on Blackhawks Management After Recent Player Update Do you want your team to sign Caleb Jones in the off-season? | ||
| Yes | 84 | 56 % |
| No | 66 | 44 % |
| LIST OF POLLS | ||
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