With the Marian Hossa contract dump finally in the books, the Blackhawks currently have over $9 million cap space. The cap flexibility will give the Blackhawks more options on filling the need for a top 4 defenseman, and potentially a top 6 forward.





Chicago sent Marian Hossa, Vinnie Hinostroza, Jordan Oesterle and a 2019 third rounder to the Arizona Coyotes. In return, the Blackhawks received in return prospect Mackenzie Entwistle and a pair of AHLers in Jordan Maletta and Andrew Campbell.





And former Blackhawk Marcus Kruger.





Let’s take a look at the other times the organization has brought back players they once let go.





Kris Versteeg: A solid piece in the 2010 Stanley Cup run with 44 points that year and 14 in the playoffs. Versteeg would be let traded away after that run due to salary cap restrains. In his first year in Florida 2011-12, Versteeg put up 54 points. He would see less ice time and his production went down and missed most of the 2012-13 season after knee surgery. He would return to Chicago early in the 2013-14 season, hover around 30 points and bring home another Stanley Cup in 2015. He was traded again before the start of the season. He was productive enough to not be irrelevant, fan favorite and a leader and bringer of levity in the locker room.





Andrew Ladd: Brought back in February 2016 when the Jets were eliminated from the playoffs. Ladd played on the first line and racked up 8 goals in only 19 appearances. He was clearly intended to be a rental with veteran leadership experience leading into a playoff push. It didn’t quite work, they lost in seven in the first round of the playoffs to St. Louis. It also cost Chicago a first round pick and Marco Dano for Ladd’s lackluster production. The Islanders signed him as a freeagent that summer.





Johnny Oduya: February of 2017, Chicago coughed up another draft pick and draft bust Mark McNeil for Oduya’s 15 games and 1 goal. Wow.





Brian Campbell: In 5 years with Florida after departing the Blackhawks in 2010-11, Campbell saw pretty consistent point production. His last season in the NHL, Campbell signed a one year, $2 million deal with Chicago in 2016. He was paired with rookie Gustav Forsling on the third line at tallied 17 points. At 38, he was a steady third liner who was given a low bar of success.





Patrick Sharp: Due to salary constraints, a declining Patrick Sharp was dealt to Dallas in the summer of 2015. Almost immediately after being dealt, Sharp faced a concussion and other health issues. 48 games into his second season with the Stars, Sharp underwent season ending hip surgery. He took a massive pay cut to return to Chicago on a 1 year, $800,000 deal with potential bonuses. The Blackhawks get a pass for this. Fans loved the nostalgia move and it was a very cheap deal.





Brandon Saad: This one is...tough. Saad was shipped to Columbus in the summer of 2015 after his most productive season for Artem Anisimov, a handful of prospects and a 4th round pick in 2016. Four days later, Saad would sign a six year, $36 million extension with Columbus and have back-to-back 53 point seasons. Saad returned to Chicago in a trade in June 2017 for Calder Trophy winner Artemi Panarin, Tyler Mott and a 6th round pick in 2017. Saad’s first year back, he tallied 18 goals and 35 points. Meanwhile, Panarin was in Columbus throwing up a career best 82 points. Everything is fine.





Marcus Kruger: Kruger is coming back to Chicago in 2018-19 after ending the previous season in the AHL with the Charlotte Checkers. Coyotes GM John Chayka revealed in May of this year that Marcus Kruger played through a sports hernia last season. Kruger is now 28 and healthy, so there is a possibility of a bounce back season. Kruger’s role will be to take defensive pressure off his linemates. Kruger is also on the final year of a three-year $9.25 million contract he signed with Chicago in 2016. So there’s that.





Not counting the Sharp deal, Chicago is 1 for 6 in bringing back skaters that were once let go. We can point to "veteran leadership" as a motivator, but what does that net you? By definition, intangible assets are impossible to quantify. At this point, the core of the team should be considered the veteran guidance for guys like DeBrincat and Schmaltz.







The "familiarity with the system" line is another fallacy. How is that quantifiable? And what's the excuse if that player doesn't produce? The only way these types of moves aren't regrettable is if the returning player contributes more to the team the second time around.







There is a bigger and clearer argument for fresh blood and younger players with high ceilings than bringing back skaters familiar with Q's coaching style. It's very easy to get excited about seeing familiar faces, especially ones that played roles in any of the three Cup victories. However, it's important to realize the production is never matched and the price is hard to justify.



