As the Chicago Blackhawks prepare to celebrate a century of history and championships, the organization is grappling with a more pressing concern… its future.
A franchise that dominated the 2010s, winning three Stanley Cups in six seasons, is trying to emerge from a rebuild that has required a lot of patience throughout the organization.
Landing Connor Bedard with the first overall pick in 2023 provided Chicago with a major building block, but it also reinforces the need for the team to continue building.
The Blackhawks have come to realize that, as much as Bedard drives excitement, one player cannot carry an entire franchise on his own. The team finished 31st in the standings last season and had a minus-70 goal differential.
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General manager Kyle Davidson has had his work cut out for him in hopes of building a promising core similar to what the team had back in the Patrick Kane-Jonathan Toews era. Additionally, another head coach will look to turn the fortunes of the franchise around, with Jeff Blashill replacing Luke Richardson.
So, as the Blackhawks enter their 100th season as a franchise, they can only hope there will be some tangible improvement on the ice.
The headline addition this off-season was trading for Burakovsky, a two-time Stanley Cup champion who will inject some much-needed veteran stability into a young dressing room. While that presence is important, what matters more is how he can still impact games. Burakovsky brings size, skill, and the ability to generate offence at even strength, but has had to deal with injuries that derailed parts of his last two seasons in Seattle. He should be a top-nine fixture — possibly a winger alongside Bedard, but also play centre and bring along younger forwards like Frank Nazar and Oliver Moore. Can he get back to being a 60-point producer like he was in Colorado? Being able to stay healthy will certainly have an effect on that.
It’s hard to call a first-round pick “under the radar,” but on a team with multiple top picks, that’s the position Reichel (17th overall in 2020) finds himself. Despite the opportunities the team has provided, the 22-year-old winger’s production has underwhelmed. Last season, he managed only 22 points in 70 games, far short of what the Blackhawks expected from someone with the speed and offensive instincts he showed during his time in the AHL. The pressure is on for Reichel to produce as a top-six forward heading into a contract year.
For as much attention the Blackhawks’ forwards get, the blue line is the most intriguing part of their rebuild, largely because of the depth of young talent that’s been built up, headlined by Levshunov. The Blackhawks made a significant investment in the Belarusian defenceman, selecting him with the second overall pick in the 2024 NHL Draft, and have seen him already log minutes, appearing in 18 NHL games and recording six assists. The 19-year-old brings an elite blend of size and skill and is known for his transition ability and offensive instincts. If he continues on his upward trajectory, the Blackhawks’ rebuild will progress in the right direction.
1. Can Connor Bedard take the superstar leap?
Bedard had a solid rookie season, but his sophomore campaign left something to be desired with 67 points in 82 games. While it’s impressive to see Bedard produce with the lack of a high-end supporting cast, Chicago desperately needs him to take a step forward. It would have helped if the team had landed a top-end player in free agency, but there weren’t a lot of options out there to pursue. So some of that improvement will have to come from Bedard himself. Is it possible for him to reach the 80-90 point range? Sometimes it takes time for a player of Bedard’s calibre to hit his stride, much like Nathan MacKinnon did in his early years.
2. Can the Blackhawks turn the corner defensively?
The Blackhawks allowed the third-most goals against in the NHL last season and finished near the bottom in penalty-kill efficiency. It’s no surprise considering the young, inexperienced blue line, but they also have veterans like Connor Murphy and Alex Vlasic that should provide steadiness for youngsters like Levshunov, Sam Rinzel and Kevin Korchinski. If this part of the lineup can take a step forward, it could lead to a more competitive season.
3. Can they find secondary scoring?
Bedard is the focal point of the Blackhawks’ offence, but he can’t do it all. The team showed its faith in Frank Nazar, giving him a long-term extension despite having just 56 career games to his name. They will also need veterans like Tyler Bertuzzi, Teuvo Teravainen and Ilya Mikheyev to perform when the top line isn’t on the ice.
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