Last Word On Hockey’s Puck Drop Previews are in full effect for the 2025-26 season! As the regular seasons draws near, we have been and will continue to preview each teams’ current outlook and stories to watch for the upcoming season. We will also do our best to project how things will go for each team throughout the campaign. Today, we’re previewing the motivated the young 2025-26 Chicago Blackhawks squad.
A Recap of the 2024-25 Season
The 2024-25 campaign for the Chicago Blackhawks was one where they did some experimenting. They tried their best to integrate as many of their prospects into the NHL. However, they didn’t want them getting completely shellshocked, which, unfortunately, may have happened to some degree. They were able to counteract this effect with a strong veteran presence throughout their lineup. Big future pieces such as Frank Nazar, Kevin Korchinski, and Artyom Levshunov all got into Hawk games last year. Despite the possible growing pains, that’s the type of thing will do wonders for their development down the road.
When you are a team in a rebuild, it is hard to know when to give up on being sellers. In contrast, you may have seen some transition in the way they have built their team. Players like Seth Jones, Taylor Hall, even a veteran like Craig Smith were shipped out of The Windy City towards the end of the campaign. It wasn’t intended for any short-term impact on the club, in terms of winning games. Conversely, you could have seen it as a way to set the tone for the coming offseason.
As a note, the one big storyline from last year was Ryan Donato. He had a breakout season at 28 years old. He blew his previous career high of 16 goals out of the water with 31. The fact that general manager Kyle Davidson kept him around, shows that he might be identified as someone to help in the next three-to-five years. That is the time span as the team progresses from its current rebuild stage.
The 2025 Offseason
The Blackhawks were conservative in the offseason, as they are still in the midst of that aforementioned rebuild. Adding a few veterans like Sam Lafferty and Andre Burakovsky shows that they want to be competitive. Yet, these aren’t the type of groundbreaking moves that says, we want to compete now. They just want to be in the games for their young players to feel like they’re close.
They are the type of players that possess the skillset and hockey knowhow to be hard to compete against. Also, Chicago could have them in their back pocket come the trade deadline to continue to stockpile future prospects. That mindset will eventually shift, but let’s be honest, this rebuild feels like it is more than a year away. Look at the Montreal Canadiens as an example, having a lot of patience for a couple years, could pay off in spades. You’d have to think they want some more depth before saying, yes, this is our core group of the future. Conversely, they might possess that hard to find top-end talent that you could just get away with fewer total assets. The type of idea that they are closer than you think. We don’t quite agree with that as a possibility in the case for the Blackhawks. However, for example, Levshunov and Bedard are two very highly-touted young players and could potentially win your team games at this point of their career. So, you do have to factor in the elite status element, when it comes to projecting Chicago’s future outlook.
Lineup Predictions Starting With the Forward Lines and their Top-Six
Whether or not Nazar and Connor Bedard settle in on the top line together or not, they both have a spot on the club’s top two lines. Also, given Donato’s big 2024-25, he definitely fits up in the lineup. Tyler Bertuzzi is another player who has the offensive skill worthy of an NHL top-six forward group. Therefore, he gets that type of ice time as the season progresses. The other two we will pencil in are Teuvo Teravainen and Nick Foligno. Both veterans provide a bit of offence, reliability, and leadership. That’s the type of thing, that if Chicago’s on ice product is to exceed expectations in any way, shape, or form, will go along way in achieving that task. So, even though their top six isn’t among the league’s best, it has potential to turn some heads.
Bottom Six
We weren’t quite giving it away, but even the bottom-six forward group for the Hawks is interesting. Moreover, we aren’t saying they will make the playoffs, but these are competitive guys. One example is Jason Dickinson. He’s a great guy to have out there showing the young guys a thing or two about hard work. In addition, the same could be said about Sam Lafferty, who has experience in a depth role on successful teams. Each of Ilya Mikheyev and Andre Burakovsky bring speed and can chip in offensively. Then, the Hawks have a few up-and-comers. Names like Lukas Reichel and Ryan Greene among those first in line for the opening night roster.
Their Top-Four Defence
In case it wasn’t obvious during the forward discussion, as good as the Hawks may or may not be, they do have a literal Achilles Heel. That being injuries. Their lineup, and none better exemplified than their defence, does not have the depth to deal with injuries. Unfortunately, as a unit, their defence probably doesn’t have the talent required to be anywhere near the Western Conference Wild Card positions.
Now, they do have players for each of their respective roles. Alex Vlasic, Connor Murphy, and Levshunov will all occupy top assignments and specialty team roles. However, even the fourth, of what would be the proverbially top four, is not a lock. Louis Crevier likely gets the designation, as he is the only other defenceman currently signed to an NHL contract. All others on their roster wouldn’t need to clear waivers to be sent down to the AHL’s Rockford Icehogs.
…And the Bottom Pairing Is…
The top candidates to filter into the top six are Sam Rinzel and Kevin Korchinski. Rinzel played nine games in Chicago last year. The 6’4″ tall, University of Minnesota Golden Gopher product has a very strong all-round game. It seems it won’t take him long to record his first career NHL goal. Korchinski is also a very highly-rated prospect, having been taken seventh overall in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft. He is up to 17 points in 92 games played at the NHL level, and looks to approach breakout numbers, sooner rather than later. If he dominates like his skill shows he can, the Hawks will be fun. Although, still lacking experience to make a playoff push, not to mention, a lack of depth.
Nolan Allan is there, as well. He had eight points in 43 games last year in Chicago.
Finally, Wyatt Kaiser played 57 games for the Hawks last season, but remains an unsigned restricted free agent with the club.
All-in-all, their defence will be in tough. Moreover, they have the talent to get it done, but it does seem like everyone will have to play at their best.
Goalies
The Hawks goaltending situation is simple, and if it works, again, they could be competitive. Spencer Knight is brilliant goaltender. He could backstop a playoff team, especially if he is playing better than expectations.
Furthermore, Laurent Brossoit is a terrific back-up goalie, having played on a Stanley Cup Champion Vegas Golden Knights team.
Arvid Soderblom still remains as high as rated NHL young player as any of the Blackhawks to carve out a productive NHL career. However, having been on tough Blackhawk defences earlier in seasons throughout his development, as led to the growing pains. The ultimate question remains as to whether it will carry through for the duration of this season.
The Chicago Blackhawk Connor Bedard’s 2025-26 Point Total Projection
Players to Watch
We think the combination of Nazar and Bedard are players to watch. We already provided Bedard’s point projection and Nazar is coming off an historic contract for a player of his (lack of) experience. The noteworthy stat of Nazar’s contract was the fact that only Kirill Kaprizov had compared to his contract in terms of fewest games played and total dollar amount.
We do believe the next player to watch is on the defensive side of the puck. Definitely the names Korchinski, Soderblom come to mind. However, we think Levshunov is very near takeoff NHL levels. So, he’s our pick.
Prediction (in the Standings)
We believe that Chicago still wants to put them in the Gavin McKenna conversation. Now, that is not a conversation in early September. However, Chicago doesn’t really have the depth to deal with injuries to content for an playoff position. Most realistically they hit between sixth-or-eighth last in the league. Hopefully they can hit a trip on the river.
Main Photo Credit: David Banks-Imagn Images
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