The Chicago Blackhawks have 10 games remaining in the 2025-26 season. This is a chance for them to head into an important off-season feeling good about themselves.
The Chicago Blackhawks have 10 games remaining in the 2025-26 season. There have been ups and downs throughout the season, but they feel like they have continued taking steps as an organization.
In the early stages of the season, they were hanging in there with the Wild Card teams in the Western Conference.
The Colorado Avalanche, Dallas Stars, and Minnesota Wild didn't take long to clearly identify as the top three teams in the Central Division, but the Wild Cards have been open all year. The Central Division is miles better than the Pacific.
For the Blackhawks, it wasn't until Connor Bedard, who has blossomed into a legitimate NHL superstar, went down with an injury that took him out for a long stretch.
Bedard went down on December 12th, and things went from bad to worse on December 20th when Frank Nazar got hurt. Losing the top two centers on an NHL team will tank anyone.
Since they have returned, they have gotten back to form on a personal level, but the team never put together a consistent stretch of winning that allowed them to get back in the race. Now, with 10 games left, there are a lot of things to learn and focus on heading into a massive off-season.
10 Thoughts With 10 Games Remaining
1. Connor Bedard scored his 30th of the season on Thursday night against the Philadelphia Flyers. This was the first time that he reached that plateau, and he's just the third Blackhawks player to ever reach that milestone before turning 21 (Jonathan Toews, Eric Daze). How many goals will Bedard reach? Based on his current pace, he will finish with 35 goals. Bedard's next point will be a new career high, and he is on pace for 78. Without the injury, he is flirting with 100.
2. Anton Frondell already fits right in. He has an assist in each of his first two career games and has come close to scoring his first goal. It is only a matter of time. He plays with Connor Bedard at even strength and on the power play, which will only help his confidence in the offensive zone. This may be the linemate that Bedard has truly missed over his first three years in the NHL.
3. Like Frondell, Sacha Boisvert also made his NHL debut this week. He won't impact the game as much as Frondell does right away, but being a solid two-way player in the middle six is his eventual calling. Boisvert, throughout his career up to this point, has been a physical player who can also contribute on offense. He is starting his NHL career on the fourth line with Teuvo Teravainen and Landon Slaggert, and that line has a mix of everything on it. Keep an eye on Boisvert as he looks to get an inside track on a roster spot next season with his play to end the year.
4. Spencer Knight has earned the number one role on the team. The Seth Jones trade to acquire him is one of Kyle Davidson's best moves. But who is his backup long-term? Arvid Soderblom had a tough season compared to what he was hoping for, but he's been brilliant in recent weeks. Did he turn a corner right as Drew Commesso was ready to take over the backup role? You can never have too much good goaltending, but these final ten games are an audition for everyone involved, whether it be at the NHL or AHL level.
5. Nick Lardis scored 71 goals in his final year of major junior. That skill translated to the AHL, and he's starting to figure it out in the NHL. Is he a long-term top-six forward? He is looking to fill the net over the final 10 games of the season so that management knows that he will be a prominent goal scorer going forward. The more he plays with good players, the better he will be. Getting him up to the second line was a win for Jeff Blashill. Frank Nazar, who is also an incredibly important piece to this puzzle, is the perfect center for a sniper like Lardis. These final 10 games are the perfect opportunity for them to work on their chemistry heading into 2026-27.
6. Do the Blackhawks need a veteran defenseman via free agency or a trade? It wouldn't hurt, but they are seeing what things are like with only young players right now. Matt Grzelcyk is down with an injury, so 24-year-old Alex Vlasic is the elder statesman right now. There will be tough games for the group as a whole, like on Thursday in Philadelphia, but in general, Vlasic, Louis Crevier, Artyom Levshunov, Sam Rinzel, Wyatt Kaiser, and Ethan Del Mastro have done well.
7. There were some rumblings about Jeff Blashill getting a look at Ryan Greene at center, but it hasn't happened yet. He has been pretty glued to Connor Bedard's wing all season. Greene has the tools to be a center, but Blashill likes the little things he does to make things easier on Bedard in the offensive zone. Greene won't put up big numbers, but he retrieves pucks, plays well along the boards, and defends well. Guys like Bedard (and Frondell) are freed up with a player like him on their line. If he does every play center, it will be in a pure checking role, which is something the team also needs in a young forward.
8. Oliver Moore seems to be done for the season. When he first went down, it was "week-to-week" with very little clarity on why. Well, with 10 games remaining in a season that is not going to end in the postseason, there are only a few weeks left. If they decide to shut him down, it is on him to be ready by camp. His rookie season has shown tons of promise. He likes playing center more than wing, but next year will play a key role in his long-term position.
9. Ilya Mikheyev was the only player in legit trade rumors who was not moved ahead of the deadline. As a pending unrestricted free agent, his future with the club is uncertain. Based on his play during his time in a Blackhawks sweater, he is well-deserving of an extension before leaving to go somewhere else. The grass might not be greener on the other side for the player, and the team would benefit from keeping him around. This is likely a mutually beneficial relationship. Over the last 10 games, both sides are likely to confirm or deny whether or not those sentiments remain true.
10. In addition to Mikheyev, there are also veterans in Ryan Donato, Andre Burakovsky, Tyler Bertuzzi, and Teuvo Teravainen. Which of these guys is worth keeping around over inserting young players? Can Burakovsky finish strong after a bad two-month stretch? Will Tyler Bertuzzi eclipse his career high of 30 goals (he currently has 29)? Where do Ryan Donato and Teuvo Teravainen fit into next year's lineup? There are 10 more games for these veteran forwards to impress the executives running the team.
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