Chicago Blackhawks fans must have these three expectations in their head for the 2024-25 season
The Chicago Blackhawks have rolled downhill for the past few years, but are now starting to see a light at the end of the tunnel and are starting to roll back uphill.
With that being said, the Blackhawks aren't even a Wild Card team yet, and are most likely going to finish bottom ten in the league again. So, what exactly can you expect from the Hawks this year?
This off-season, the Hawks brought in guys like wingers Teuvo Teravainen and Tyler Bertuzzi to multi-year deals. They also signed veteran winger Pat Maroon and veteran defenseman Alec Martinez to one-year contracts. Kyle Davidson and his team also signed a couple first round picks from this year's draft, such as Artyom Levshunov and Sacha Boisvert. However, it's likely the two of them will not see any playing time this year in the NHL. They also signed Lukas Reichel to a prove it or lose it two-year deal. This is Reichel's last chance not only with the Blackhawks, but possibly the NHL.
Record wise, expect Chicago to finish last, if not second to last in the division. The only team(s) that can possibly finish behind them are the Arizona Coyotes or some team who collapses and has an unexpected bad year. Chicago only won 23 games last year, and with the free agent additions and other factors, they should improve on that and be a more fun team to watch. The Blackhawks will probably select around the #5-7 overall range if everything goes well. Don't expect much from the Hawks at the trade deadline, either. They really have no assets to trade but will probably do something here and there to get more picks, so something like last year's deadline.
The main focus and excitement is Connor Bedard, as he's coming off a Calder Cup winning rookie season. Last year, he had 61 points in 68 games in a shortened season due to a fractured jaw. However, it is unknown who his linemates are going to be. Bedard and Philipp Kurashev really connected last season, and that actually led Kurashev to the best season of his career by far. But, with the additions of Tyler Bertuzzi and Teuvo Teravainen, those guys are in the mix as well. Teravainen on the left, Bedard at center, and Kurashev on the right would be the ideal line, with Bertuzzi on the second line for some good, decent depth, which is something the Blackhawks haven't had in a while. Fans should also hope that Alex Vlasic continues to shine, as he was one of the few bright spots last year as he's shown he can be a first line defender, and he just signed a six-year contract.
Towards the end of the season, Frank Nazar's NCAA season at Michigan will be done. It'll be stupid for Davidson not to bring up Nazar this year, as he did it last year. He'll join the Blackhawks after his time is done with Michigan and will probably replace Pat Maroon, or any other outstanding player filling in a roster spot keeping a seat warm for a young talent. That's the reason the Blackhawks signed Maroon and Martinez; to keep the seat warm and to teach the young guns. Nazar has the potential to really pop like a firecracker this year, as he had one goal in the four games he played last season. He can be a second line winger for sure and probably will be the second line left winger coming in alongside Bertuzzi as stated above, or Luke Richardson could throw him on Bedard's line and see how it does. Nazar has the potential to be the second line winger of the future, and that's how he's viewed as of right now, but can also weasel his way into a first line winger position if he plays his cards right.
Overall, improvement is key for the Hawks this year. No matter where it comes, improvement, improvement, improvement. As long as the team gets better, Bedard reaches 80 points, Richardson gains more experience at the head coach position, and they crush the draft next year, you can classify it as a good year.
| POLL | ||
SEPTEMBRE 21 | 140 ANSWERS Chicago Blackhawks fans must have these three expectations in their head for the 2024-25 season How many wins will the Blackhawks get this year? | ||
| 20 | 10 | 7.1 % |
| 30 | 44 | 31.4 % |
| 35 | 39 | 27.9 % |
| 40 | 47 | 33.6 % |
| List of polls | ||
