Even With Connor Bedard, Blackhawks Hit Bottom

Rebuilding Chicago wasn't deep to begin with entering 2023-24. Now depleted, the Blackhawks can't score — and tend to lose focus and fall apart.

Even with Connor Bedard in the lineup, the Chicago Blackhawks are depleted offensively.

And at the bottom of the NHL standings heading into Tuesday's game against Nashville at the United Center. 

The Blackhawks are 7-16-0 after losing nine of 11. Chicago's 14 points are tied with San Jose for fewest in the league.

Bedard leads all NHL rookies with 11 goals and 20 points. The 18-year-old has had a statistical hand in 35.7% of Chicago's 56 goals so far.

The Blackhawks average of 2.43 goals in 23 games is third-worst, better than only San Jose's and Washington's outputs. On a just-completed three-game trip to Detroit, Winnipeg and Minnesota, they managed only one goal in each contest, with Bedard being on the ice each time.

The Blackhawks don't consistently pressure opponents and grind to try to make up for talent differentials. The misreads and breakdowns wouldn't be so glaring if they did.

Chicago also might have a few more goals. See coach Luke Richardson in the video.

No Taylor Hall: Right ACL surgery and out for season after coming back strong from a shoulder injury. The former Hart Trophy winner finished with two goals and two assists in 10 games.

No Andreas Athanasiou: Groin injury and out since Nov. 9. The speedy forward had no goals in first 11 games after signing a two-year, $8.5 million contract last June.

No Corey Perry: Waived on Nov. 28 after management learned on Nov. 22 of an apparent alcohol-fueled team policy violation. The 38-year-old finished with four goals and nine points in 16 games.

No production from Lukas Reichel: Rated as Chicago's top prospect before the 2023 draft, Reichel seemed to be breaking through last season with seven goals and 15 points in 23 games. The 2020 first-round draft pick was slotted as the No. 2 center behind Bedard.

But Reichel, 21, often has seemed unengaged and unfocused this year, playing well for a few shifts then disappearing. The wiry German had just two goals and four assists in 22 games before being a healthy scratch in Minnesota on Dec. 3.

Almost no goals from defensemen: Rookie Kevin Korchinski has two. Spare part Nikita Zaitsev has one. None from Seth Jones or Connor Muprhy and none at all from D-Men on the power play.

No more (offensive) production from Nick Foligno: Foligno has poured his big heart into this team and become its de facto captain. It's easy to see why the former Columbus' captain won the Mark Messier and King Clancy leadership awards with the Blue Jackets.

But in his last 11 games, 36-year-old Foligno has just one assist after netting two goals and six assists in his first 12.

Other forwards on the Blackhawks with some history of scoring — Taylor Raddysh (20 last year), Ryan Donato, Philipp Kurashev and Tyler Johnson — have been streaky. None would figure to be a top-six forward on most winning teams.

Anthony Beauvillier, acquired from Vancouver after slipping with the Canucks, is expected to rejoin the team on Tuesday if his visa issues are resolved.

Cole Guttman played with energy at the end of the 2022-23 season until he needed surgery for a shoulder injury. He's been recalled from AHL Rockford and is now back after missing three games with an upper-body injury.