It feels like forever since the Chicago Blackhawks were at the top of their game. From 2009 through 2017, they were contenders almost every year. But here we are, heading into the 2026 season, and that golden run is now nearly a decade behind us. In the past 4 years, the Hawks have been one of the worst teams in the NHL and that’s putting it lightly.
If there’s a silver lining, though, it’s this: Chicago has been stockpiling draft picks like they’re Infinity Stones. Almost every major hockey publication ranks them at or near the very top when it comes to prospect pools. So yeah, it might take some patience, but there’s no denying that better days are coming. The real question is when? #chicago #blackhawks #connorbedard #franknazar #hockey #nhl #icehockey
AUDIO CRED: Karl Casey @WhiteBatAudio
43 Comments
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Future ain’t red
Bedard sucks.
Go Hawks!
Mediocrity and acceptance is a big part of the Hawks' culture right now.
Don't expect any special soon and don't think Chicago will be any better than a Buffalo organisation going forward.
The Hawks aren't aggressive or showing signs of going forward at all.
The captain is bonefied 3rd/4th liner senior who's replacement could be any aggressive player from the Icehogs.
Don't hope for improvement.
Just enjoy the intermission entertainment and Chicago style hotdogs after the game
The media loves the Sharks, and they sleep on our Hawks for no reason. We are gonna be a great team again soon, and I have a feeling a lot of people are gonna be upset 🤭
That Hawks roster, to my eyes anyways, does not look any stronger, improved what previous seasons.
I have not yet seen much of development from their prospects (not even from Bedard). Most impressive has been Nazar.
I think he holds higher ceiling what Bedard, time will tell. How he played, skated, how aggressive, how well adjusted his game was.
He played better in those few games last season what Bedard did all last season, my opinion.
Goaltending and defense is still huge problem, latter, as in there are no QB dman. For a team that has Bedard and Nazar
and few rather skilled forwards, their defense is defensive minded and doesn't have a puck carrier,
nor forwards opening first pass passer and like i said, no QB offensive dman,
0:13 Seth the master of turning his brain off and running of brainfart gas. the moment he gets put under the slightest of preassure. you saw it this past final. and that infamous PK88 video where he backpeddles out of the zone while on PP. and Kaner passed him the puck and asked him where he was going 😀
Fantastic video, great prospect pyramid. Really really excited to see Kantserov on the team next year
people need to understand how blessed we were with that team from 2010-2015. even if the Hawks can compete again here in the short term, no Cup won will ever match the magic of the One Goal era.
Your mind is absolutely cooked if you think Blashill will do anything with this team, ever.
You talk development, where is Bedards deveolpment? Nazar is already a more well rounded player.
It's been painful watching the Hawks the last few seasons, but I'm excited and have optimism this year. While I have nothing against veterans like Foligno, Dickinson, and Murphy, at this point I feel like they are taking up roster spots from some of their youth.
this is amazing, we are loaded #GOHAWKS
people don't even realize Oliver Moore is going to quietly put up 60 points next year lol
Perhaps they're holding off on buying in just in case we "win" another draft lottery and steal Gavin McKenna? lol
Its going a good head coach great coaching staff until all these drafts won't fix anything.
As a Chicago sports fan in general this is the only franchise I’m able to believe in to truly rebuild themselves. The White Sox have some prospects that can definitely turn it around but the white Sox always end up tearing it down, The Bears are just the Bears nothing ever goes right there, and the Bulls front office just doesn’t really seem to care about making a championship caliber roster but they don’t want to tank or embrace a rebuild but they’ve got some decent young talent. The Blackhawks really are the only team (that I’m a fan of frick the cubs) that I see the potential I’ve not been watching much of the Hawks but after watching this video I’m really excited to start watching this team closely again
Also have to remember that Bedard is on his 3rd coach already. That can't be easy. Just want offense and points from the young guys. Lose 5-4 instead of 5-2
Anyone remember 2009-2016 when Edmonton had the following 1st round picks:
10th; 1st, & 19th; 1st; 1st; 7th; 3rd; 1st; and 4th? They also had the 6th overall in 2006, here we are 20 years later. I swear I think about half Hawk's fans think Nazar has already done enough for a Hall of Fame induction. Then again these are the same Hawk's fans that were talking about the great chemistry Bedard and Kurashev had, and how they were going to be a great duo for decades.
Sure I hope the Hawks become a contender, but they are far from that now, and are they still tanking (note the big off-season move was to get a bad contract to get to the cap floor). Bedard is still the ONLY top line Forward they have, the young D looks to have promise, but they are at LEAST 3 years from having four top four Defensemen. Plus lets not forget this is year 4 of the tank, Hagel was traded for magic beans before the 2022 trade deadline.
Lets pump the breaks on planning the parade.
So far they've been doing it right for the most part this team will definitely get dangerous soon. The trick after that will be avoiding the stupid decisions that Stan Bowman made that lead to that Kane era getting disrupted sooner than one would expect. Even if this new core get's to that cup management should always be making sure the future is secure afterwards
Not really into hockey, why does everyone seem to dislike bedard?
You should move Savy up the pyramid.
Just really hope they get McKenna as one final draft piece to add to the core. Won't get my hopes up, but next year's 1st round pick is a crucial element to this rebuild.
Bedard is out skating everyone by a mile in practice.
Not good …
It isn’t. Your d corps is buns, you have 2/6 of a top six forward corps, and no goaltending. You guys have 4 years before you’ll be seriously competing for the central division.
Whats wild is we have a strong pipeline of big, fast, physical, high energy role players.. Spellacy, Greene, Slaggert, del maestro, Crevier, Harding, Savoie just to name a few.. korchinski has some unreal talent, but he may become the odd man out and turn into some serious trade bait by the end of the season. i dont want to see him go, but i think levshunov is going to fill the role korchinski was pegged for especially since rinzel is emerging as a potential top line defenseman so quickly. The blackhawks have a good problem on their hands.
The rebuild has been going on since before Kane left! "Its not working!" They've become bottom dwellers; there's something really wrong in Chicago! Hope is a good thing.
I’m another long time fan from 70’s. Seeing the chemistry build last season, the speed of some of these kids is insane. How many neutral zone breakaways did we have?!? Let alone 2 line pass breakaways. Not wasting time and money on so e old dude that isn’t gonna put you over the top at trade deadline when you’re 31 of 32 teams…save the money and bring up the kids from Rockford to get some time when the season is over in Jan/Feb. Maybe not playoff bound this year but I see a BIG jump . Starting 26-27 season if we keep all these kids…the bandwagon fans will be back in full force for another 6-7 years.
Ima bet them their first game at 2.6 to 1 odds
We need wins not prospects. Pyramids have been built faster enough excuses.
2029,
Yeah right!
Nazar is the truth
I’m happy with .85 points p/g in this system with this roster. Nowhere to go but up.
We are use to our teams struggling in Chicago, but the Blackhawks will become a big threat soon 🫶
very well put together piece. Looking foward to seeing Nazar and Rinzel establish themselves this season. Really all they need is scoring depth up front and i think the results will follow, Connor will not have to bear the burden always needing to produce for the team to win every night. The abudance of quality skilled kids on the blue line is wild. Hopefully a couple of em can really nail down a regular spot, three maybe…. Remember that time Keith, Seabs and Hammer all were in this spot – worked out pretty good. They are in the best spot they can be to start a season since the rebuild began.
There’s no urgency to move Reichel he’s on a $1.5 million salary for the rest of the season. He’s a different but a better player then Slaggert or Dach, his main competition. Until Fondell or Broisvert show up as competition next training camp 2026 Chicago should keep Reichel. IMO he is this era, Michael Frolik. Reichel former first round draft choice and it’s not worth trading him for anything less at this point in time. GM Kyle Davidson has proven. He doesn’t do anything unless it makes sense. Trading Reichel does not make sense at this point in time.
Does Chicago still have Mrayzk?
The rookie defenseman is gonna be a big help!!
The Blackhawks now have a lot of quick/skilled players but they still are weak in their own zone and TOTALLY lack any consistent team cohesion.
But it's still early in the season.
0-2-1 lol
You’re right, I’m very happy that Kyle didn’t sign some big name free agent who’ll be past his prime by the time they’re ready to compete. Let these kids develop
The most exciting thing about the rebuild, apart from the massive amount of talent is a coach that knows how to lead young talent to improvement. All the skill in the world without a coach won't get you very far. The "culture" here is great it seems.