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The Chicago Blackhawks could face a tough decision, leading to a familiar face hitting the waiver wire this fall.
The Chicago Blackhawks will head into training camp this season looking to turn a corner. Last season, the club had another last-place finish. But there’s hope that Chicago’s young stars can continue their development. As such, the Hawks could escape the NHL cellar.
Along the way, some tough decisions will need to be made. One such decision could involve veteran forward Sam Lafferty. The 30-year-old could find himself hitting the waiver wire if he fails to impress at training camp this fall.
It’s worth pointing out that Lafferty will be starting his third stint with the Blackhawks. The former fourth-round pick played parts of two seasons in Chicago before moving on. The Pittsburgh Penguins, Lafferty’s original draf team, sent him to the Blackhawks in January 2022 for former first-rounder Alex Nylander.
After signing a two-year deal in Chicago, he was sent to the Toronto Maple Leafs at the 2023 trade deadline in the Jake McCabe trade.
The Leafs then flipped Lafferty to the Vancouver Canucks the following fall in a cap dump move. He played with the Canucks for a season before landing in Chicago again. He didn’t play a game and instead signed as a two-year, $4 million deal with the Buffalo Sabres as a free agent.
The Sabres then moved Lafferty back to the Blackhawks this summer for a 2026 sixth-round pick. As such, Lafferty will hopefully be kicking off his third stint in Chicago with a successful training camp. But unless he can improve on last season’s four goals and seven points in 60 games, it could be a short stint for the veteran forward in Chicago.
Lafferty Could Provide Depth for Blackhawks
Daily Faceoff projects Sam Lafferty as the club’s fourth-line center. That’s not a bad role for the vet. He’ll have a chance to prove he’s still an effective NHL forward, even playing under 10 minutes a night.
But the Blackhawks are a rebuilding team. So, there will be plenty of opportunities for Lafferty to provide depth and leadership as young centers Connor Bedard and Frank Nazar look to take the next step forward.
That’s why a solid season from Lafferty will be crucial. However, the Blackhawks could be expecting some crucial depth scoring. Of course, it would be unrealistic to suppose Lafferty can score 20 goals. But getting all-important depth points is essentially in helping the Blackhawks get out of the cellar.
Young Players to Pressure Lafferty for Lineup Spot
As a rebuilding club, the Chicago Blackhawks will have young players pushing their way into full-time NHL roles. Ryan Greene could push for a job. So, could Olive Moore. If Moore impresses, he could move into the 4C, allowing the club to play Lukas Reichel.
Other older players like Joey Anderson could push for a job. That situation puts pressure on Lafferty to keep his spot in Chicago’s lineup. Given the number of young forwards in the pipeline, Lafferty could be on the outside looking in this fall.
If he hits waivers, there’s a good chance another club could take a flyer on Lafferty. He could still be an effective fourth-liner on a club searching for depth.
Nestor Quixtan Seasoned NHL analyst focused on covering all 32 teams with news, analysis, and insights. Originally from Toronto, Canada, Nestor’s singular experiences and background have enabled him to bring a different take on the sports world as a whole. More about Nestor Quixtan
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