A Half Dozen Thoughts With 12 Blackhawks Games To Go

It felt like once Connor Bedard was drafted, the days to his Blackhawks debut was a slow crawl. Flash forward nearly a year later, and it’s just 12 games more until his rookie season is in the books.

The Blackhawks were shutout for the 11th time this season in yesterday’s 4-0 loss to Los Angeles, prompting the first half dozen thoughts in the season’s final 12 games. We’ll start with those 11 doughnuts.

#1: The Blackhawks Have to Address Goal Scoring in the Offseason

As it stands, the Hawks are sitting 52 goals short of last year’s total of 204. Back in September, I looked at the Blackhawks goal scoring differentials over the past four seasons, and it predictacbly looked bleak with the current roster setup. No one, though, could forsee just how bad injury would make things.

I even wrote that it couldn’t be much worse than it had been. A major Charlie Conway on District 5 swing and a miss there. Dead last in goal scoring last season, the Blackhawks are on pace for approxmiately 182 goals, which thankfully won’t be as listess as the 2014-15 Buffalo Sabres. They remain the “champion” of goal scoring futility at 153 goals in an 82-game season during the Cap Era.

However it’s sliced, the Blackhawks need to bulk up with a few proven goal scorers to not only help Connor Bedard and the young core out, but to also see some forward progress in the rebuild.

#2: Wyatt Kaiser is Auditioning Again for Next Season

Kaiser has been solid since returning from Rockford, a chance that could help put him over the top when he is one of many young defenseman trying to make their case to stay in Chicago at season’s start. Kaiser already did it this season, and has been much better since his 31-game stint in Rockford.

“He played in all situations for us and found his game,” Rockford coach Anders Sorensen told CHN recently. “He looks more comfortable on the ice.”

Indeed he has, showing a similar re-engagement that Lukas Reichel showed once he was brought back to Chicago. Does it translate into a full-time gig next season? He has 12 games to get a real head start on it–and potentially give him the leg up on any battles heading into next season.

#3: Hawks Should Hold Onto Tayor Raddysh For Another Year

I like Raddysh’s game and I think he’s had the misfortune that hits many young players following a career season–a let down statistically and then a crisis of confidence. Raddysh had a great chance last night but Lukas Dostal was able to scurry to the other post in enough time to kick it away. So goes the season for Raddysh.

If indeed general manager Kyle Davidson infuses the roster with some goal scorers and young, up-and-coming talent, Raddysh is likely to benefit. With a cruel shot percentage of 4.5% clearly an anomaly from his previous totals of 14% and 15.5% respectively, Raddysh should get another season with more talent on the roster to show this season is a bump in the road. Raddysh is an RFA and can be signed for a reasonable deal, especially with his production not seeing last year’s numbers. It’s a little risk–high reward signing for someone who seems prime to bounce back.

So these final 12 games are a chance to Raddysh to pot a few goals–something he hasn’t done since December 14th–a span of 36 games.

#4: Arvid Soderblom is Heading Into a Make or Break Year Next Season

Drew Commesso has been solid for the IceHogs. Adam Gajan still has time before he’ll be with the big club–but his numbers haven’t likely been where the Blackhawks would like them to be. So Soderblom, who Richardson would quickly point out hasn’t had much to work with this year, still needs to be mindful that the 2024-25 campaign will need to see some large gains to keep that spot. Petr Mrazek is the undisputed starter for at least another season–buying Soderblom some added time to develop more and get stronger between the pipes.

Both Richardson and Sorensen have talked about his mental toughness. Now comes the part of tightening up the stats. The netminders in Rockford are likely still a season or two away from patroling the crease in Chicago. But Soderblom needs to do what Mrazek did this season and stake his claim.

With every start he gets from now until Game 82, it’s a slow build to find some momentum heading into next season.

#5: Connor Bedard is Winning the Calder Despite the Protest of Some Fanbases

Want to set off a Minnesota Wild fan? Explain to them that Brock Faber is a great defenseman but not as important as Bedard to his team. The discussion that Faber should garner serious looks at the Calder are understandable but proposterous. If the the Wild were in the playoff conversation–then fine–it’s on the table. But there isn’t a single voter on the honor who will deny just how important Bedard has been to the Blackhawks roster.

The goal scoring problem would be even more dire if not for him. That’s more than enough to seal it for Bedard. For more, this piece on how Bedard keeps rising through rookie point totals with the iconic names of the organization should help state the case even more. The 18-year-old still has a chance to end up top-five in points as a Blackhawks rookie–especially with some of the opponents still on the schedule.

#6: The Blackhwaks Coaching Staff Has Done Admirable Work

Take those 11 shutouts off of the coaching staff. Richardson and his staff’s top priority has needed to be ensuring that the young core begins to form. Kevin Korchinski, Philipp Kurashev, and Alex Vlasic have all been very good this year, and made the needed strides to build around. Bedard was going to be great regardless.

In the midst of frustrating stretches of the season where losing far outweighed wins, the Blackhawks reamined in games and often late. There is little margin of error with this roster, so sacrificing any sort of defensive play to try and push the offense has many times led to pucks in the wrong net. Richardson hasn’t had a lot roster wise to work with and the admirable work he’s done so far can’t be understated.

Next year, depending on the direction Davidson decides to go, is the first where a real judgement can be formed. The following season, unless 2024-25 is an absolute tire fire, is the first true chance at determining whether Richardson still has the room.

Until then, the even-keeled Richardson has kept things even handed in Chicago.

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