New Additions: F Andre Burakovsky (from SEA), F Sam Lafferty (from BUF), F Dominic Toninato (2yr x $850k AAV), D Matt Grzelcyk (PTO), HC Jeff Blashill

Subtractions: F Joe Veleno (to MTL), F Patrick Maroon (Retired), F Philipp Kurashev (to SJS), D Alec Martinez (Retired), D T.J. Brodie (FA), F Andreas Athanasiou (FA), HC Anders Sorensen

Retentions/Extensions: F Ryan Donato (4yr x $4M AAV), D Louis Crevier (2yr x $900k AAV), G Arvid Soderblom (2yr x $2.75M AAV), F Frank Nazar (7yr x $6.59M AAV), G Spencer Knight (3yr x $5.83M AAV)

The Chicago Blackhawks are still feeling the hangover from their 2010s dynasty coming to an end. It was thought that landing the 1st overall pick in 2023 and the selection of generational talent Connor Bedard would turn things around, but they remain in the basement of the NHL. Fans who were so used to cheering for wins a decade ago are now cheering for moral victories, and reasons to be optimistic about the future.

Bedard is a special talent. Coming into the league I thought he had the chance to be an instant point per game player and 40 goal scorer. While he was close to being a point per game in his Calder winning rookie season (61 points in 68 games), he has yet to solidify himself as an elite scorer, posting 22 goals in 2023-24 and a disappointing 23 last year while playing all 82 games. My belief in his ability to be a superstar in the league has not wavered, I still have faith he will be scoring 50 goals with 100 points in due time. But his lack of production goes to show that everyone needs help, hockey is a team sport after all, and it is more about his supporting cast letting him down than it is about him letting the team down.

Let us dive into this supporting cast, beginning with recently extended forward Frank Nazar. Credit to him and his agent in securing a contract worth over $46M with only 56 games played, and 27 points in the NHL, the contract was given purely based on potential. Nazar was the 13th overall pick in the 2022 NHL Draft, being selected with the pick the team traded Kirby Dach for. Despite the lack of NHL experience or production, there is reason to believe this contract will age well. The Detroit native has excelled in international competition, winning gold at the 2024 World Juniors (8 assists in 7 games), and more recently winning yet another gold medal at the 2025 World Championships (team leading 6 goals and 12 points in 10 games). If he is able to replicate his international success with Chicago, his $6.59M cap hit (that does not kick in until 2026-27) could be a steal. Look for him to breakout in his first full season.

The rest of the forward ensemble lacks star power, featuring Teuvo Teravainen, Tyler Bertuzzi, Nick Foligno and Ryan Donato, who had a career season last year (31 goals and 62 points). There was speculation that Donato would be shipped at the trade deadline, or walk in free agency, but he ultimately reupped in Chicago for four more seasons at a reasonable $4M cap hit. The team also acquired Andre Burakovsky in the offseason, hoping to get some much needed offense. After a few years bouncing between a few teams, Sam Lafferty is back in town, providing some veteran depth. 

The weakness of the team is their defensive corps, which only got weaker after moving on from Seth Jones. Alex Vlasic (cousin of Marc-Édouard Vlasic) has quietly come into his own since being drafted in 2019. With plenty of opportunity available in Chicago, he has been forced into a top pairing role, playing over 23 minutes a night, and playing all situations. Connor Murphy gives the blueline a veteran leader, with nearly 750 games of experience. Where the unit can improve, is with the help of two former first round picks, hoping to become full time additions on defence. Artyom Levshunov (taken 2nd overall in 2024) saw time in both the NHL and AHL in his first year, although the team hopes he is a fixture in the lineup for the whole season. The other young D-man is Sam Rinzel (taken 25th overall in 2022), coming off a great season at the University of Minnesota, Rinzel joined the team to end the season, recording 5 assists in 9 games played. If those two can step in and immediately impact this team, it could quickly turn around what has been one of the worst defenses in the league for a while.

A fellow Minnesota Golden Gopher, Oliver Moore is hoping to crack the full time roster and display the talent that had him selected 19th overall in Bedard’s draft. He too got brought in after the college season and dished 4 assists in 9 games. He is a speedy winger who can effortlessly fly around the ice. I hope he can be paired with either Bedard or Nazar and showcase his skill. Sadly for fans, it looks like 2025 3rd overall pick Anton Frundell is headed back to play in Sweden this upcoming season, but he is certainly a player to look out for when he does make his NHL debut.

I actually thought the return Chicago got for Seth Jones was really solid, receiving Florida’s first round pick in the upcoming draft, and 24 year old goalie Spencer Knight. Knight was taken 13th overall in 2019 by the Panthers, and looked promising as the team’s future number one. In addition to being stuck in a backup role behind Sergei Bobrovsky, Knight has had some off the ice problems of his own that have prevented him from being on the ice as much as he would like. After spending time in the Player Assistance Program, Knight appears to be happy and healthy, and with a change of scenery in Chicago, he has been given the opportunity to be a number one goalie in the NHL. The Blackhawks signed him to a 3 year $17.5M extension this offseason, setting him up to be the team’s starter through 2029. Truly a great story and I will be one of many people rooting for Spencer throughout his career.

The expectations for Chicago are low this season, which if you are an optimist like me, can be a good thing. They are still seen as a rebuilding team, and any success will be seen as a massive win for the club. New head coach Jeff Blashill has his work cut out for him, and the talent is not going to be what he is used to having served as an assistant in Tampa Bay for the past few seasons. He looks to rebound as a head coach after an overall disappointing tenure in Detroit. If I were a fan, I would just like to see a little more production out of Bedard, maybe this is his 40+ goal season I was expecting of him as a rookie. As well as the supporting cast to give some hope, pieces like Nazar, Moore, Levshunov and Knight can all be great pieces behind Bedard going into the future. I do not have faith this team finishes any higher than 7th in their own division this year, but I look forward to watching this young team come together.