Blackhawks to buy out Brett Connolly and Henrik Borgstrom

Both Connolly and Borgstrom were acquired in the same trade last April from the Florida Panthers. Chicago sent Lucas Carlsson and Lucas Wallmark to Florida in exchange for Connolly, Borgstrom, Riley Stillman, and a seventh-round pick.

Connolly was a salary cap dump in that deal. The Panthers signed him to a four-year, $14 million contract in July of 2019 but his production cratered after one solid season with the club.

Connolly scored just one goal and three points over 19 games for the Blackhawks all told. His buyout will cost the team $1,166,667 for two seasons, which represents a savings of $2,333,333 in 2022-23 and then an addition of $1,166,667 in 2023-24 when his deal was set to expire.

Borgstrom was one of the sweeteners that the Blackhawks received for taking on Connolly’s contract. The No. 23 overall pick from the 2016 NHL Draft, Borgstrom produced excellent numbers with the University of Denver but he hasn’t been able to find his footing at the NHL level.

In 2021-22, Borgstrom played 52 games for Chicago and scored four goals and seven points. He has 26 points across 110 NHL games all told.

Since Borgström is 24 years of age at the time of the buyout; therefore, the buyout ratio is 1/3. His buyout will cost the Blackhawks $83,334 in 2022-23 and $183,334 in 2023-24. He had one more year left on his contract at $1 million.