Connor Bedard and the Chicago Blackhawks were awfully quiet during the opening day of the NHL free agency. As expected, the franchise in the Windy City didn’t break the bank on any free agent. However, the Hawks are now trying their luck with a former Florida Panthers‘ forward, who will have to silence the critics upon arrival.

The Blackhawks must sign all the help they can get, but they aren’t rushing into any bad decisions. After a quiet and uneventful opening day of free agency, Chicago has now taken a shot on a veteran who previously played for the Colorado Avalanche, Florida Panthers, and Winnipeg Jets.

After selecting Anton Frondell with the third overall pick in the 2025 NHL entry Draft, fans in the Windy City are anxious about the start of the new season. The fanbase knows better than to get too excited because the performances on the ice might disappoint them.

However, the Blackhawks didn’t give their fans many reasons to be excited during the free agency opening day. Aside from the return of Sam Lafferty to Chicago, the Hawks didn’t make much noise. But one move in particular caught the fans’ attention.

Dominic Toninato #14 of the Florida Panthers skates against the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden on November 10, 2019 in New York City.

“Blackhawks sign forward Dominic Toninato to 2-year, 2-way contract with $850k cap hit,” as reported by Chicago Sun-Times‘ Ben Pope.

AHL bound?

Toninato, who spent the past five seasons with the Winnipeg Jets, will enter the 2025-26 season as a 31-year-old. He played only 5 NHL games last season, being mostly in the AHL.

Bedard and the Blackhawks might not see much of Toninato, as reports state the veteran will be deployed mostly by the organization’s AHL, the Rockford IceHogs. “[The Blackhawks signed him] to play in Rockford,” The Athletic’s Scott Powers said on his X account.

Signing Toninato to a two-way contract hints at Chicago’s plans for the forward, as such deal allows the franchise to move him between the minors and the NHL.

Connor Bedard #98 of the Chicago Blackhawks arrives inside Wrigley Field prior to the 2024 NHL Winter Classic against the St. Louis Blues on December 31, 2024 in Chicago, Illinois.

Why so quiet?

“I didn’t want to put any players in front of the young guys that we do think are ready,” general manager Kyle Davidson said about the Blackhawks’ stance. “Now, we have enough young players that there aren’t enough spots for all of them to play, so there will be battles there. It’s a combination of market, situation, players being ready, veterans already in place. It all goes into the mix on why it was quieter today.“