The Blackhawks destiny in 2023-224 starts with No. 1 draft pick and generational talent Connor Bedard, of course. But the progress of young, swift defensemen, especially Kevin Korchinski, and a resurgence by Taylor Hall are pivotal too.
The Blackhawks destiny in 2023-224 starts with No. 1 draft pick and generational talent Connor Bedard, of course. But the progress of young, swift defensemen, especially Kevin Korchinski, and a resurgence by Taylor Hall are pivotal too.
Blackhawks story follows Central Division rankings * calculated by KEVIN, a predictive learning model created by Rachel Doerrie. Chicago is projected to finish in eighth place.
See the rankings below, with a link to a preview story for each team.
1. COLORADO https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/colorado-avalanche/featured/colorado-avalanche-2023-24-projection-3-keys-to-the-season-and-worst-case-scenario
2. DALLAS https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/dallas-stars/features/ranking-the-central-stars-projected-to-finish-second-behind-avalanche
3. MINNESOTA https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/minnesota-wild/news/minnesota-wild-2023-24-projection-keys-to-the-season-and-worst-case-scenario
4. WINNIPEG https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/winnipeg-jets/news/ranking-the-central-winnipeg-remains-on-the-playoff-bubble
5. NASHVILLE. https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/nashville-predators/news/nashville-predators-2023-24-projection-three-keys-to-the-season-and-worst-case-scenario
6. ST. LOUIS https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/nashville-predators/news/nashville-predators-2023-24-projection-three-keys-to-the-season-and-worst-case-scenario
7. ARIZONA https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/arizona-coyotes/news/coyotes-2023-24-projection-three-keys-to-the-season-worst-case-scenario
8. CHICAGO https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/chicago-blackhawks/.preview/cn02cb731590002758?auth=1697028945:b3098fcb55c8f7d52d1e16a39b2b6ae752e0e680&nonce=1696942544930
CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS
Last year: 26-49-7, 59 points. 8th in the Central (out of playoffs)
Projected: 8th in the Central
Keys to the Season
1. How good will Connor Bedard be, and how fast? The NHL’s No. 1 draft pick of 2023 will center the team’s top line between Taylor Hall and Ryan Donato to start the season. Hockey’s “next generational talent” is clearly ready to play in the NHL, but coach Luke Richardson points out the 18-year-old faces a learning curve. Some of those sick moves that made Bedard the CHL’s player of the year and Canada’s WJC hero last winter won’t work in the NHL. (They didn’t quite in preseason games.) But Bedard will figure it out. He’s the favorite to win the Calder Trophy and oddsmakers project he’ll score about 30 goals and 70 points.
2. Those dashing young D-men. The Blackhawks have three young defensemen — Kevin Korchinski, Wyatt Kaiser and Alex Vlasic — with great wheels and upside potential. That’s especially true of Korchinski, a 19-year-old first-round draft pick (seventh overall) in 2022 who was flying all over the ice in the preseason while skating big minutes. Richardson has compared Korchinski to Hall-of-Famer Scott Niedermayer and wants the rookie to use his speed offensively and defensively, noting the tireless WHL product has “a big gas tank too.” The three D-men will make mistakes, but Richardson isn’t worried as long as those are “not recurring.”
3. The kids in with Hall… and Foligno and Perry. The Blackhawks acquired Hall along with Nick Foligno from Boston, and signed 38-year-old Corey Perry to add a veteran presence and framework. Hall, a former first-overall draft pick (2010) won the Hart Trophy in 2017-18 with New Jersey as he clicked with 2017 No. 1 selection Nico Hischier. Chicago hopes Hall can develop the same kind of chemistry with Bedard. Hall, 31, wants to show he’s still an elite player and has trained hard to prove it.
4. Healthy goaltending. Petr Mrazek is in the final year of a three-year contract he originally signed with Toronto. The 31-year-old needs to avoid the groin issues that have limited him the past several seasons. Arvid Söderblom, 24, is a promising, low-cost backup while Chicago waits for top goalie prospect Drew Commesso to gain pro experience with AHL Rockford.
Most-likely Scenario: The Blackhawks are a lot more exciting this season with brilliant flashes from Bedard, Korchinski, Hall and others. Chicago will win more games, but still land in the bottom half of the Central.
Worst-case Scenario: Bedard and the kids struggle more than expected this season as they cope with steeper-than-expected challenges. But they’ll improve eventually as Chicago continues to rebuild.