As the NHL playoffs get underway this weekend, one team that will once again be absent from the big dance is the Chicago Blackhawks. The Blackhawks are coming off another bottom-feeder season as they finished the year with a 29-39-14 record. This gave them 72 points, which placed them 31st in the NHL standings for the third consecutive year.
While this is not necessary a surprise given the Blackhawks are in the middle of a rebuild, patience amongst the Chicago fandom will only last so long for a franchise that has not seen playoff hockey since 2020.
The team appears to share this sentiment. Defenseman Alex Vlasic has stated that playoffs are the expectation heading into next season, according to the Chicago Sun-Times’ Ben Pope.
Chicago Blackhawks Are Surrounding Connor Bedard With Talent
The Blackhawks have been rebuilding for quite some time now under General Manager Kyle Davidson. The tear down began in the 2021-2022 campaign when Davidson took over as GM and started the process of selling Chicago’s top pieces and building through the draft.
This has been a painful process, but the potential of promise on the horizon is there. Led by franchise player Connor Bedard, the Blackhawks are finally beginning to surround their star player with talent around him. Fellow forward first round draft picks Anton Frondell and Frank Nazar should give Chicago a center core to be able to build around.
With another top pick on the way in the 2026 draft as the Blackhawks hold the second best draft lottery odds that could see them land projected top pick Gavin McKenna, the future appears to be looking up in Chi-town.
This Is an Important Offseason for Kyle Davidson
Davidson will have a crucial summer on his hands as he looks to bolster this club over the offseason in order to increase their chances of breaking into the postseason.
While the Blackhawks have a strong pipeline of prospects and young talent, they lack that elite supporting cast of veteran players that could help take them to the next level. This is an area Davidson is likely to address as he appears primed to become more aggressive in the free agent/trade market this summer.
Blackhawks ownership has kept their faith in Davidson as they rewarded him with a multi-year contract extension upon conclusion of this latest season, despite another finish near the bottom of the league. CEO Danny Wirtz clearly trusts Davidson’s long term vision.
With that being said, the results need to improve on the ice. While the Blackhawks have made modest improvement points-wise, jumping from 61 to 72 over the past two seasons, the group has yet to assert themselves as a contender.
Next year will be the fourth season of the Bedard era, they cannot afford yet another playoff miss. While Bedard has stated his belief in the team and his wish to extend, questions over his future in Chicago will continue to persist until they become a winning organization.
Overall, next season will be a vital one for the Blackhawks. The stakes have been raised as the team aims to get back into playoff contention.
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