NHL free agency has been active this month. The top headline is the shocking five-year, $90 million offer sheet that Leo Carlsson signed with the Philadelphia Flyers — and that the Anaheim Ducks matched to keep the 21-year-old center.
The Chicago Blackhawks, on the other hand, have been fairly quiet. Their most recent move was extending 23-year-old goaltender prospect Drew Commesso — one of four restricted free agents the Hawks hope to retain along with Connor Bedard, Ethan Del Mastro and Kevin Korchinski.
The Hawks signed two veteran players on the first day of free agency July 1 in left wing Cole Smith and defenseman Ian Cole. Neither is a needle mover, but general manager Kyle Davidson — after fumbling between the Cole names — celebrated the additions.
“(Ian Cole) provides some veteran presence and a steadying influence on our young D-corps,” Davidson said. “That veteran understanding of the game allows you to be effective, specifically in the defensive zone, and he’s a great penalty killer.
“If you watched the playoffs, (Smith) was a little bit of a wrecking ball on (the) forecheck. You look at some of the hit totals, they were pretty high, (so) trying to make life a little more difficult on the opposition was something that we intended on adding.”
Smith, 30, was a part of the Vegas Golden Knights’ run to the Stanley Cup Final, in which they lost to the Carolina Hurricanes in six games. He didn’t score much — six points in 22 postseason games — but his defense and special teams play boosted the Knights.
“Finding a niche that makes you stick is very important (and) I’ve been able to find and be consistent with that,” Smith said. “When a team needs to change momentum in the game, go out and have a good shift, take D-zone faceoffs (or) try to end (possessions) in the O-zone, that’s been my way to be successful.
“Chicago liked the game I had, and I’m excited to bring it to Chicago.”
Adding to the excitement is the potential to bring a playoff run like the Knights had to the United Center. It was part of the reason Smith wanted to join the Hawks, despite the 23-point difference in last season’s standings between the teams.
“Chicago’s a young team that’s on the rise from a rebuild, and it’ll be a fun group to be a part of,” Smith said. “They’re ready to start winning — that was a big thing for me, communicating with management.
“It was an awesome run to be able to go that far (with Vegas). Once you get a taste of it and being so close, it really drives you (to) want to get back there again.”
The Hawks have more free-agency business to take care of, including an extension for Bedard. Smith said the 20-year-old center texted him shortly after he signed, “which is pretty cool from a young guy.”
“Looking forward to meeting him, seeing what makes him tick,” Smith said.
Smith’s three-year, $9 million deal with the Hawks is the longest of his career. The newfound stability is something he has sought for a while.
Golden Knights right wing Cole Smith (22) and Hurricanes defenseman Sean Walker scuffle during Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final on June 6, 2026, in Las Vegas. (John Locher/AP)
“We have a little one now, just over a year old, so just to be able to find consistency is huge,” said Smith, who will marry his fiancee, Hannah Cook, this summer in Nashville, Tenn., before moving from his native Minnesota to Chicago. “To have three years, to move a whole house there, put our roots back down (and) be comfortable without thinking about moving again is huge.”
Smith signed with the Nashville Predators in March 2020 after going undrafted. He played 271 games for them over six seasons before being traded to Vegas before this year’s deadline. He has 64 points (25 goals, 39 assists) in 292 career games.
The 37-year-old Cole — who signed a one-year, $4 million contract — also shared his excitement about joining the young Hawks. He echoed Smith’s view of wanting to be a part of a ready-to-win group.
“The Hawks are an up-and-coming team, one that’s shown they can beat a lot of good teams in the NHL,” said Cole, an Ann Arbor, Mich., native who played at Notre Dame. “It is definitely closer to home. I have some family in the area — my whole mom’s side of the family is from Chicago — (so) it’s very exciting to be a part of it.”
Among his new teammates is defenseman Bowen Byram, 25, whom the Hawks acquired for the No. 4 draft pick and then signed to a six-year, $75 million extension. Cole and Byram were briefly teammates on the Colorado Avalanche in 2020-21.
“Very high-end potential there,” Cole said. “From what I hear about the other (Hawks defensemen), they seem like awesome guys. I want to step in and try to help everybody grow and become a better player as best I can.”
With new teammates comes the opportunity to be a veteran voice. It may take a little longer to fit in — Cole is 10-plus years older than most of his fellow Hawks — but entering his 17th season with his 10th team, he has seen just about everything an NHL player can.
Mammoth defenseman Ian Cole checks Golden Knights right wing Keegan Kolesar into the boards during Game 4 of a first-round playoff series April 27, 2026, in Salt Lake City. (Tyler Tate/AP)
“I’ve been fortunate enough to be on a lot of teams with a lot of different demographics in the room,” Cole said. “The last couple years in Utah, (they were on) a very similar trajectory to where the Blackhawks are.
“I don’t think there’s one blanket approach to (leading). We’re all there for the same thing — win hockey games, be a competitive team, make the playoffs (and) get back to the Chicago Blackhawks that I grew up with in the 2010s, where it’s one of the best teams perennially.”
Cole has been a reliable figure over 990 career games. Since his November 2010 debut with the St. Louis Blues — who drafted him at No. 18 in 2007 — he ranks ninth in the NHL with 1,834 blocked shots.
He also never has averaged less than 15 minutes of ice time for a season. He takes pride in that dependability.
“It’s consistent — being able to be someone that the team, the coaches (and) your teammates can rely on,” Cole said. “If I can handle my business and bring a consistent product night after night, it’s something that the coaches and teammates can rely on and grow with and figure out how we can meld all these different skill sets and personalities together for the best on-ice product.”
Cole added a new aspect to his game in Utah: durability. He played all 82 games in both seasons with the Mammoth, something he hadn’t previously done in his career.
“To be available to help your team on the ice is crucial — there needs to be continuity in the lineup and continuity of play,” Cole said. “There’s the old saying: The best ability is availability.”
Bedard also reached out to Cole upon his signing. It will be a little later than expected after Bedard’s shoulder surgery this month, but Cole is eager to play with the 2023 No. 1 pick.
“(He) seems very ready to have a great year and help our team win hockey games,” Cole said. “When you have someone of that superb high-end talent, you want to try to foster that and help those guys get into their most advantageous positions — figuring out where he wants to be, where he wants the puck, how he wants the puck. It’s something that I’m going to try to figure out.”