Chicago Blackhawks Sign Berube, Bouma to Contracts
By James Neveau •
After the Chicago Blackhawks brought in forwards Tommy Wingels and Patrick Sharp on Saturday, they continued to bolster their depth as they signed three more players to free agent contracts.
They brought in another goaltender as they signed Jean-Francois Berube to a two-year contract. Berube, who posted a 3.42 goals against average and an .889 save percentage with the New York Islanders last season, will potentially compete with Anton Forsberg for the back-up position to Corey Crawford in the coming season.
The Blackhawks also signed defenseman Jon Oesterle to a two-year contract. The blue liner appeared in 25 NHL games with the Edmonton Oilers over the past few seasons, posting six assists in those contests. He had a strong AHL campaign with the Bakersfield Condors a season ago, racking up seven goals and 25 assists as he provided some scoring punch and good puck movement on the back end.
Numerous Chicago athletes have been traded away in recent months, but the question on the minds of plenty of fans in the Windy City is this: which athlete will be the most missed by their respective team? nnHere, we list our candidates for that distinction.
Getty Images
Butler’s absence leaves the Bulls with a gaping hole in their starting lineup, and it also could signal a rebuilding effort as the team tries to eventually become more competitive in the Eastern Conference. nnDwyane Wade could help soften the blow a bit, but his age could be a concern as he’ll likely be more of a mentor than an actual superstar for the Bulls next season.
Getty Images
The Cubs’ sparkplug last season was unquestionably Fowler, and they have churned through lead-off hitter candidates since he left town. Kyle Schwarber, Ben Zobrist, and Anthony Rizzo have all gotten opportunities to lead off games, but the team’s offense just hasn’t been the same since Fowler signed with the St. Louis Cardinals in the offseason.
Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images
A member of the Blackhawks for a decade, Hjalmarsson could always be counted on for strong defense and for his proficiency in blocking shots. He ended up winning three Stanley Cups with the Blackhawks in his career, and his abilities as a defender will be hard to replicate as the team is hard up against the salary cap going into the 2017-18 season.
Getty
There is a massive changing of the guard going on at Soldier Field in the coming year, and Jeffery could be the most difficult man to replace among all of the departed former Bears. The team doesn’t exactly have a wide receiver that will be able to step into his cleats, with Kevin White constantly facing injury issues and players like Cameron Meredith still relatively unproven in terms of consistent production.
Getty Images
Panarin signed with the Blackhawks prior to the 2015-16 season, and he made a massive impact on the team’s offense in his short stay in Chicago. He scored 61 goals and dished out 90 assists in 162 games, and he was a huge threat on the power play as he racked up 17 power play goals in two seasons. nnHis production will be very difficult to replace, and youngsters like Nick Schmaltz and Alex DeBrincat could be called upon to step into his role alongside Patrick Kane.
Getty Images
The White Sox entered a rebuilding mode of their own when they dealt Sale away in December, and he’s gone out of his way to prove that they would miss him. He currently has a 9-3 record with 2.85 ERA and a staggering 146 strikeouts in just 15 starts this season.
The Blackhawks capped off a flurry of activity by signing Lance Bouma to a one-year contract. The forward has 67 career NHL points in 304 games, and he’s a grinder-type player who is content with throwing around his weight on hits and getting to the front of the net to create screens and clean up rebounds near the goal crease.
None of the three players are necessarily guaranteed roster spots with the Blackhawks come October, but all three will certainly compete for roles as the Blackhawks look to boost their depth heading into the new year.
