Chicago Blackhawks

Lynch: Blackhawks enter a critical season for the rebuild

Published

7 months ago

September 22, 2024

Jim Lynch

Welcome in ladies and gentlemen to a new weekly featured I will be adding here at Chicago Hockey Now. Each week readers can pair their Sunday coffee with a column where I will share my thoughts on things going on with the Chicago Blackhawks, around the NHL, and more.

So, let’s dive in. This season is a major building point for Kyle Davidson‘s rebuild of the Chicago Blackhawks. Last year the Hawks lineup was not set up for success. They were built to struggle, mostly due to the reality of tanking and rebuilding. Teams need to finish near the bottom of the standings to get high draft picks and for the last few years, Chicago has been drafting near the top.

This season is different. While Chicago is still in the middle of a tough rebuild, this is a building block year. Blackhawks fans coming to the United Center this season can start to see players in action that very well could be part of the next core looking to win the Stanley Cup in Chicago.

Obviously Connor Bedard is the face of the franchise, but those other pieces are starting to take shape. Alex Vlasic at just 23 years of age has become a big part of the blue line. This is a big year for him after signing a massive contract extension in April.

Frank Nazar has been someone fans have been excited about since he got his first taste at the NHL last season, scoring his first NHL goal in his debut.

Lukas Reichel also has promise. While this is a big year for the young forward, Chicago does envision Reichel as apart of their future success. This season is an opportunity to show whether or not he can be an impact player.

This is a critical year for the Chicago Blackhawks rebuild.

The Blackhawks need to take a step forward this season. When I say that, I don’t mean making the playoffs and winning the Stanley Cup – although some fans would call for that already.

This season needs to be about being IN more games. Competing night in and night out and really showcasing that the Hawks can compete.

This is also a big year for the Blackhawks coaching staff. Luke Richardson is entering his third year as head coach of the Chicago Blackhawks. It’s hard to image a coach with a .338 point percentage and a overall record of 49-102-13 not being on the hot seat, but that is the case here.

Richardson had two drastically depleted rosters the past two seasons, he is in a secure spot with this team and now fans will see what he can do as coach with a more complete roster.

The same way this is a big sophomore season for Bedard, this is also a big junior year for Richardson as coach. What will his system look like with a more competitive roster? How will the Hawks do with special teams? And how will Richardson handle putting together a competitive roster, continuing to develop and grow the young players that make the team and win games night in and night out?

This season should be fun.

Links of the week:

Teravainen is back in a Blackhawks uniform, his old team but with new faces.

The Blackhawks got it right naming Nick Foligno as captain.

Early picks for the Blackhawks to play alongside Connor Bedard.

Blast from the past:

Patrick Kane scored two goals in a 4-1 win for the Blackhawks in Game 2 of the Second Round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs in 2015. After the game, Teuvo Teravainen, who scored the game winning goal in the game prior, passed the belt off to Patrick Kane. It’s hard to imagine this season will mark the ten year anniversary of the Blackhawks sixth Stanley Cup in 2015.