Blackhawks Thanksgiving Edition: 3 Players Chicago Fans Should Be Thankful For
The Chicago Blackhawks rebuild has moved forward, as they have acquired key pieces in the offseason. The team may be in a slump and could be counting on another lottery pick, as a result.
But even then, there's reason to be thankful even at this stage in this rebuild. The Blackhawks have made attempts to improve the lineup, with an 8-12-2 record.
All the while they continue to develop top talent in the AHL, and the NHL.
There are three players that the Blackhawks should be thankful for, without them the Hawks could be worse.
Connor Bedard scored a goal last night against the Dallas Stars, finally breaking his scoring slump. Thanks to that, it seems the dam has broken for the center, which has experienced a multitude of line shuffling thanks to Luke Richardson's impatience.
While he does have 12 assists, you'd have expected him to have an equal amount of goals this season.
While he may he gone through a slump, it has passed and he's only 19 and still has plenty of time to develop into the lethal scoring threat we expect him to be. Keep in mind he's one season removed from his Calder Trophy-winning season.
Alex Vlasic was mentored by Seth Jones last season, as he was part of the top pair in 2023-2024. While Vlasic may have a different partner this season, the effect on Vlasic's play has been remarkable as he's been a factor on the ice nightly, whether it's contributing to the power play.
He can become a #1 defenseman in the Blackhawks system and has earned the praise of his teammates and his head coach.
Veteran Connor Murphy also spoke highly of the defenseman.
Mrazek helped deliver a victory in what seemed like a lopsided victory against Peter DeBoer's Dallas Stars.
Mrazek gave up only 2 goals last night, on 27 shots coming out of the game with a .926 save percentage, and his 7th win of the season.
If it wasn't for the veteran goalie playing above and beyond, the Blackhawks wouldn't have won many of the games they have this year. This includes a win against the former Stanley Cup champions, Florida Panthers where he stood on his head and saved 33 of 34 shots.
Keep in mind, it's up to the players in front of him to help him out whether it's limiting high-danger chances, or outscoring the other team. We could accuse this team of letting him down often, but he still performs to the best of his abilities.
Mrazek's played 16 games for the Hawks this season with an 8-7-1 record, 2.63 GAA, and a .912 save percentage.
| POLL | ||
Which Chicago Blackhawks forward or defenseman or goalie are you thankful for? | ||
