It seemed like everyone on the Chicago Blackhawks had a rough year. Franchise center Connor Bedard didn’t take the leap fans had hoped he would. Key players took steps back. The team finished with an ugly 18-43-5 record.
Fortunately, when you hit rock bottom, there’s nowhere to go but up.
This upcoming season’s Blackhawks look ready to bounce back. They’ve hired a new head coach in Jeff Blashill and general manager Kyle Davidson looks ready to shake things up. Newly acquired forward Andre Burakovsky looks like the perfect candidate to bounce back.
The forward, acquired from the Seattle Kraken, had a rocky season last year, putting together 10 goals and 27 assists for 37 points in 80 games. He couldn’t quite find a consistent spot on Seattle’s roster, and, now that he’s with Chicago, he looks ready to start anew.
Burakovsky Works Best in Depth Role
Andre Burakovsky is a two-time Stanley Cup champion, winning with both the Washington Capitals and Colorado Avalanche. He played a pivotal role as a depth threat for both teams, scoring key goals to bolster the rest of the offense.
The left wing had two goals and four assists in 13 games for the Capitals, playing on the team’s third line. On Colorado, Burakovsky put together a solid three goals and five assists for eight points in 12 games in a middle-six role. He thrives when the pressure is focused on other players like Nate MacKinnon or Alex Ovechkin.
Daily Faceoff has Burakovsky penciled in on the team’s top line alongside Bedard and Ryan Donato. While this role on the top line may come with some growing pains, it also presents a great opportunity for Burakovsky. He gets the chance to play alongside one of the most exciting young forwards in the NHL. His experience at the NHL level will work wonders for both Bedard’s development and his own personal point totals.
“I think I’m going to fit in right where I can help them to be better and to create more opportunities for them, set up some plays,” Burakovsky said on an interview with Clutch Points. “Just doing my thing to try and help them out and become better and help the team be better. There’s a lot of talent, a lot of really good players on the team that are young who can really take the next step, and we can become a contender here.”
Injuries A Concern for Burakovsky, Blackhawks
Burakovsky’s last season was mired by injuries and inconsistency. He mentioned in an interview with the Kraken that he struggled with hesitation after suffering a gruesome injury from Jacob Trouba in 2023.
“It’s something I maybe need to overcome a little bit,” Burakovsky said. “Maybe instead of doing what I usually do without thinking I’ll maybe think about it a little bit more. Taking the safe road instead of just playing it out. So I think definitely it’s a confidence thing. I mean, I work on it every day to try to become better. Take it step by step.”
The Blackhawks open the season against the Florida Panthers on October 7th.
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