Blackhawks' Cap Space in 5 Years: Mailbag

Chicago's front office sweats the long view on salary cap flexibility, especially with Connor Bedard's extension looming after his entry-level deal expires next season. Kyle Davidson juggles a young core on cheap contracts like those of Frank Nazar and Artyom Levshunov while eyeing UFAs such as Connor Murphy and Ilya Mikheyev. A rising cap to $113 million by 2027-28 offers breathing room, but smart bridges and long-term bets will decide if the Hawks contend or just spend.