Chicago Blackhawks have 'mega offer' written out for free agent forward to play alongside Connor Bedard

Signing a few key free agents in the offseason could be what propels the Chicago Blackhawks to finally having a breakout season. If all the young prospects work hard this summer and come to training camp ready to compete, the lineup could be much more intimidating than it was at the final game of the 2024-25 season.

Many interesting players will be available for Hawks GM Kyle Davidson. The name on top of his list must be Mitch Marner. While multiple reports confirmed that the Blackhawks would be ready to make a massive offer to Marner in free agency, Davidson needs to prepare in the case they can't sign him.

That's exactly why the Hawks organization has a plan B.

TSN's Chris Johnston revealed that the next best option for the Blackhawks would be Winnipeg Jets' Nikolaj Ehlers, set to hit free agency on July 1st.

He stated that Ehlers and the Jets will likely part ways this summer, and that Chicago and Carolina are destinations that would make sense for the forward:

Ehlers would be a great addition for the Blackhawks. A natural playmaking leader, the 29-year-old Danish winger could help Connor Bedard reach his full potential on the ice.

The Jets' ninth overall pick in 2014 took part in 674 regular season games in the NHL, as well as 45 playoff games with Winnipeg. During that time, he scored 234 goals and 307 assists.

However, a few more teams are likely to be interested in him, such as the Montreal Canadiens, Columbus Blue Jackets, Toronto Maple Leafs, San Jose Sharks, New York Islanders, and many more.

In the end, the player will need to determine if he wants to compete with a Stanley Cup-contending team or help a young core of players develop.