Chicago Blackhawks surround Connor
Bedard with more offensive talent for his second NHL season
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[October 02, 2024]
By The Associated Press
Chicago Blackhawks
Last season: 23-53-6, last in the Central Division.
COACH: Luke Richardson (49-102-13 over two seasons).
SEASON OPENER: Oct. 8 vs. Utah.
DEPARTURES: F MacKenzie Entwistle, F Reese Johnson, F Tyler Johnson,
F Taylor Raddysh, D Jarred Tinordi.
ADDITIONS: F Tyler Bertuzzi, D T.J. Brodie, G Laurent Brossoit, F
Pat Maroon, D Alec Martinez, F Ilya Mikheyev, F Craig Smith, F Teuvo
Teravainen.
GOALIES: Petr Mrazek (18-31-4-1, 3.05 goals-against average, 0.907
save percentage), Brossoit (15-5-2-3, 2.00, 0.927).
BETMGM STANLEY CUP ODDS: 200-1.
What to expect
A better team, for sure. Of course, there is nowhere to go but up.
The Blackhawks finished last in the Central Division in each of the
previous two seasons. They haven't won more than 28 games since they
went 32-30-8 during the 2019-20 campaign. Following an active
offseason, it's a much deeper roster in almost every area. Bertuzzi
and Teravainen should provide more scoring punch after Chicago
finished with an NHL-low 178 goals last season. Veteran forward
Taylor Hall also should help in his return from a knee injury. The
addition of Martinez gives the team another experienced defenseman,
and Brossoit coming over from Winnipeg is a significant upgrade
behind Mrazek in goal.
Strengths and weaknesses
The good: Connor Bedard certainly lived up to the hype in his first
NHL season, finishing with 22 goals and 39 assists in 61 games. The
No. 1 overall pick in 2023 draft just turned 19 in July, and —
surrounded by more offensive talent — he is primed for a big year.
Alex Vlasic is one of the NHL's best young defensemen after a
breakout performance last season. The Illinois native was rewarded
with a new six-year contract in April.
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Chicago Blackhawks forward Philipp Kurashev is congratulated by
teammates after scoring a goal in the first period of a preseason
NHL hockey game against the St. Louis Blues in St. Louis, Saturday,
Sept. 28, 2024. (Christian Gooden/St. Louis Post-Dispatch via AP)
The not-so-good: The roster is much older than it
was at the beginning of last season. That means more experience, but
some of the new additions had been showing signs of their age before
arriving in Chicago. It's a big year for Lukas Reichel, a
first-round pick in the 2020 draft. The 22-year-old forward was
expected to take on a prominent role last season, but he finished
with just five goals and 11 assists in 65 games. If Reichel
continues to struggle, a change of scenery might be the best option
for him and the Blackhawks.
Players to watch
It's all about Bedard, and what he might be able to do if he can
stay healthy. Teravainen is back in Chicago after beginning his
career with the Blackhawks, and Mikheyev was acquired in a June
trade with Vancouver. The speedy Mikheyev scored a career-high 21
goals for Toronto during the 2021-22 season. He had 11 goals and 20
assists in 78 games for the Canucks last year. He could serve as a
valuable depth piece with the Blackhawks.
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